Rayo Vallecano preseason begins behind closed doors as Beñat San José starts project
Rayo Vallecano preseason begins behind closed doors in Fuenlabrada with Beñat San José leading preparations for the Aug 15–16 LaLiga opener and friendlies.
Rayo Vallecano opened their pre-season this Wednesday with a closed-door session in Fuenlabrada, marking the start of a new project led by coach Beñat San José. The club has initiated training away from its Ciudad Deportiva because of renovation work on the pitch of field five, and the squad’s immediate focus is the league opener scheduled for the weekend of August 15–16 at Sevilla’s Sánchez Pizjuán. Closed sessions will continue until the club can confirm a return to Vallecas, while the coaching staff prepares a series of international friendlies to sharpen the team.
Beñat San José begins closed-door pre-season in Fuenlabrada
Beñat San José took charge of the first training session with an emphasis on conditioning and tactical foundations. The session was private, with the club restricting access while the coaching staff establishes its demands and routines.
The choice to train in Fuenlabrada reflects logistical needs rather than a change in the club’s base, according to the club’s plans. Staff said the temporary move aims to minimise disruption while ensuring the players receive the intended preparation.
Pitch renovations delay return to the Ciudad Deportiva
Work is under way at the Ciudad Deportiva to upgrade the playing surface of field five, which serves as the first team’s usual training ground. The club has prioritised the turf improvements to provide a better training environment for the season ahead.
Until those works are completed, all first-team sessions will be held behind closed doors at the Fuenlabrada facility. The club has not provided an exact date for the return, but officials indicated the move back will occur as soon as the surface meets the staff’s standards.
Squad continuity with twenty players retained from last season
Rayo enter the new campaign with notable continuity, retaining twenty members of last season’s roster as Beñat San José builds his squad. Goalkeepers Augusto Batalla and Dani Cárdenas remain as the club’s options between the posts, offering continuity in a key position.
Defensive stability is represented by Andrei Ratiu, Pep Chavarría, Iván Balliu, Florian Lejeune, Nobel Mendy and Jozhua Vertrouwd. The midfield will be anchored by Pedro Díaz, Pathé Ciss, Unai López, Óscar Valentín and Diego Méndez, while width and attacking options include Isi Palazón, Álvaro García and Fran Pérez.
Departures and contract expiries reshape the roster
The club’s roster adjustments have included the return of loanees Gerard Gumbau to Granada, Ilias Akhomach to Villarreal and Carlos Martín to Atlético de Madrid. In addition, several experienced players left when their contracts expired, including Luiz Felipe, Abdul Mumin, ‘Pacha’ Espino and Óscar Trejo.
Those departures clear space in the wage bill and open opportunities for younger players or targeted signings. Club management will now weigh whether to supplement the retained core or promote from within the academy to maintain squad balance.
Decisions pending for players returning from loan
Sporting director David Cobeño and Beñat San José face early decisions on several players returning from loan who had limited impact away from Vallecas. Central defender Pelayo Fernández returns from Cádiz and will be assessed alongside the current defensive options for suitability in the manager’s plans.
Forwards Raúl de Tomás, who was on loan at Al Wakrah in Qatar, and Etienne Eto’o, recently with Villarreal B, will also be evaluated to determine whether they remain part of the roster, require another temporary move, or should be reintegrated into the squad. The coaching staff intends to use preseason training and friendlies to make those calls.
Pre-season schedule includes matches at Tynecastle, De Kuip, Portman Road and Charleroi
Rayo Vallecano have confirmed a quartet of international friendlies to prepare the squad for competitive action. The first scheduled match is against Heart of Midlothian on Friday, July 17, at Tynecastle Park in Edinburgh, a stadium marking its 140th anniversary this year.
The next test takes place on July 26 against Feyenoord at Stadion Feyenoord, De Kuip, in Rotterdam, offering a high-level challenge against one of the Netherlands’ leading teams. On August 1 the squad will face Charleroi at Stade du Pays in Belgium, followed by a fixture at Ipswich Town on August 8 at Portman Road, which will provide a final competitive rehearsal before LaLiga begins.
Training and friendly match load will be calibrated to balance fitness and tactical work, with the objective of arriving at the Sánchez Pizjuán in early-season form. The club expects these varied opponents to test different tactical approaches and build cohesion among the retained players and any new additions.
Tactical focus and objectives for the new Rayo Vallecano project
Beñat San José’s immediate priority is to imprint his style on a largely familiar squad while integrating any new signings or returning loanees. Early sessions have emphasised physical conditioning, pressing patterns and transitions, reflecting preparation for the demands of LaLiga.
Officials have framed the season as one of consolidation and measured progress, with the coaching team aiming to blend the energy of retained youngsters with the experience of seasoned professionals. The club has signalled a pragmatic approach to recruitment, seeking players who fit the manager’s tactical blueprint.
Rayo Vallecano enter this pre-season with a mix of continuity and change as they ready themselves for the new LaLiga campaign. Closed training in Fuenlabrada will continue while the Ciudad Deportiva pitch is refurbished, and a series of friendlies in Scotland, the Netherlands, Belgium and England will provide the competitive work needed before the August league opener. Management and the coaching staff must now decide on the futures of several returning loanees and fine-tune the squad to meet expectations when the season begins.
