Zubieta adds another double debut for homegrown centre-backs in Segunda

Zubieta’s conveyor belt keeps delivering in Segunda. As reported by Mundo Deportivo, the Real Sociedad’s reserve side had to reshuffle its centre-back options after the injuries to Calderón and Ayo, and that led to two more debuts from the club’s own youth ranks: Iker Ropero and Peru Larrañaga.

Two debuts, both left-footed

The standout detail is that both are left-footed centre-backs, yet they were used in the right-side profile. Ropero started the match first. Mundo Deportivo notes he has the “C” dorsal despite arriving on the back of a loan in Primera RFEF with Barakaldo, and after already getting some minutes with the Sanse. He’s from the Jon Martín generation, and he only got his break when Ansotegi finally decided to give him the alternative instead of keeping Balda there.

With Ropero, the team kept a clean sheet for the 62 minutes he played, a sign of the step up he’s taking.

Larrañaga gets his first run-out

The other debut was Peru Larrañaga, a centre-back born in December 2008. Mundo Deportivo explains he had already managed to convince in pre-season, and Ansotegi had him on the radar. He made his official debut with the Sanse in Andorra, coming on in the 63' minute.

A message from Mondragón

Mondragón, the club where Larrañaga began playing as a child, shared a congratulatory post on social media, praising the effort and reminding him of his roots.

Both centre-backs are also set to be in England this week to play with Real Sociedad’s Under-21s in the Premier League International Cup against Aston Villa, with Jon Ansotegi in charge, according to Mundo Deportivo.