Ahead of the new season, players from Menorca are making various moves including an interesting one to Scotland.
Young goalkeeper Josep Mercadal, who has been training with RCD Mallorca and CD San Francisco over the past six years, will make the move to Caledonian Braves.
Based in Motherwell, the Braves play in the Lowland League, the fifth tier of football in Scotland.
The 18-year-old hails from Ferreries and played last season in the Youth Honor Division with CD San Francisco, making 12 appearances.
On the surface, it appears quite a random move. It will be interesting to see if any connections come from it and whether he forges a career in the game in the UK.
On the move to Italy
Two Menorca-based players have head to Italy this summer for the new season.
Danny Craig Rivera, born in Mercadal, spent last season with Sporting Mahon, and will now play in the sixth tier of Italian football with Polisportiva Ovodda 1977.
The defender has previously played at senior level with CF Norteno, as well as featuring for CE Alaior and Penya Ciutadella during his youth football days.
Joining him in Italy, and at the same level, is full-back Adrian Lopez Moncada.
The 21-year-old was born in Madrid, but has spent the past three seasons in Menorca with CE Alaior and CE Mercadal.
Although there will be two Menorcan teams playing Tercera RFEF next season, Ciutadella native Jordi Leon will ply his trade at that level with Llosetense.
He joins fellow islander Andreu Segui at the Mallorcan club, who face Mercadal on November 1st.
A former CD Menorca player, Leon had a trial at the champions of Andorra this summer.
Former Atletico Villacarlos left-back Lluis Triay has signed for CE Santanyi.
Where are the top players at?
One of Menorca’s top players of the past decade, Ruben Martinez, has hung up his boots after more than 500 matches as a professional.
He is moving in to a back-office position at CE Sabadell, who he helped earn promotion to Segunda Division last season.
Indeed, the local newspaper in Menorca hail Martinez has having ‘one of the best professional football careers ever undertaken by a Menorcan.’
The 36-year-old from Mahon earned five promotions during his career, and had a spell in the Greek first division.
Experienced defender or midfielder Manuel Farrando has joined RC Portuense after two seasons at CF Talavera, while centre-back Andreu Hernandez has joined Saint Andreu in the RFEF Primera Division.
The highly-rated former Real Madrid youngster Xavi Sintes is currently without a club after leaving Cordoba at the end of his contract.
Now 24, Sintes was at Real Madrid from 2019 was part of the UEFA Youth League winning side and played for their reserve team in the 2020/21 season.
He then moved on to Sevilla, again featuring for their B side, before joining Cordoba on a two-year deal where he made his professional debut.
Striker Sergi Enrich, now 36, remains at SD Huesca for a second season, while Jon Bautista is still with Eibar in Segunda Division.
Mahon-born striker Adria Mercadal will play in Segunda RFEF next season with Atletico Sanluqueno, after spending four seasons at CD Coria, who earned promotion to Primera RFEF.
To read more about players from Menorca, check out the Players section
