Málaga weighs signing outside the window due to Lobete’s injury

The Málaga CF are rethinking their options after Julen Lobete’s long-term injury, a situation that will keep the striker out for the full season. As MARCA reports, the case opens a regulatory route to cover the absence, though the club is still assessing the scenario before taking any decision.

A new route opens

According to the newspaper, Málaga’s current stance is to wait: the sporting department is still processing the blow and, at this stage, no final call has been made on whether they will move in the market. With the squad down to 27 players, the club will need to evaluate in the coming days whether an addition is necessary.

The report says the injury is to the left knee, impacting the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament. That means surgery and time away from the pitch for the rest of the campaign. In this situation, Málaga can request a federative registration status change to free up a spot and then replace him.

Rule details and limits

MARCA adds that the move would be strictly a sporting “release,” not a contractual one: Lobete remains at Málaga during his recovery, since he is tied to the club until June 2027, and will continue to receive his salary as normal. The key point is that the club can replace his registration slot with another outfield player during the injury period.

The economic side also appears manageable. The regulation allows the club to use up to 80% of the salary cap amount that the injured player was counting toward, which matters for Málaga because Loren Juarros said recently that the club still had room under their limit.

Free agents only

The main restriction, per MARCA, is the profile of player they can target: Málaga would have to recruit from the free-agent market, with no option to bring in someone who still has a contract with another club through this route. The piece recalls that this limitation was introduced in 2020, after the debate surrounding the Martin Braithwaite case for Barcelona.

For now, the next step is internal: Málaga must decide whether they will replace Lobete and, if they do, find a player that fits what the rule allows.