Real Sociedad tour to England: Karrikaburu omitted as Kubo and Sucic join squad for Wolves and Aston Villa friendlies
Real Sociedad tour to England: Karrikaburu omitted; Kubo and Luka Sucic added for friendlies vs Wolverhampton and Aston Villa amid injuries and summer exits.
Real Sociedad have flown to England for a short preseason trip that will see them play Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa, with the Real Sociedad tour to England marked by the notable absence of Jon Karrikaburu and the return of Take Kubo and Luka Sucic. The club will meet Wolverhampton on Monday and face Unai Emery’s Aston Villa on Tuesday at the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium in Walsall. Injuries to several first-team players and the continuing recovery or vacation of others have left manager Alessio Matarazzo to balance preparation, match sharpness and squad management during the four-day stay.
Travel itinerary and scheduled friendlies
Real Sociedad landed in England to contest two consecutive friendlies at a neutral venue near Birmingham as part of their preseason program. The first match is set against Wolverhampton, followed 48 hours later by a fixture against Aston Villa, offering competitive minutes against Premier League opposition. Both fixtures will be staged at the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium in Walsall, enabling the LaLiga side to test tactical variations and give younger squad members exposure to English football intensity.
The trip is short and focused, with the team expected to return to Spain after the pair of matches to continue preseason work at Zubieta. Matarazzo has framed the tour as an opportunity to accelerate group cohesion and to evaluate players on the cusp of first-team roles. The compact schedule will mean rotation and minute management are likely priorities across both friendlies.
Karrikaburu omitted from travelling squad
Jon Karrikaburu was left out of the delegation heading to England, a decision that has quickly generated transfer speculation. The striker trained regularly through preseason but did not play in the recent friendly against Racing, where he was confined to the bench as a precautionary option. With one year remaining on his contract, club sources suggest that an exit — either by loan or permanent transfer — is probable and could be resolved before the transfer window closes.
Karrikaburu’s omission is striking because he has been available for selection during most of the preparations, making his absence from the traveling party a clear signal that sporting and contractual considerations have advanced. Observers note that providing him time away from the immediate squad while negotiations progress is a pragmatic approach for all parties. Any move would relieve squad congestion up front and afford Karrikaburu the regular minutes he needs to develop.
Injuries and international absences shaping the group
Several players remain unavailable due to injury, and a pair of international returnees are taking extended leave after tournament commitments, which has influenced the selection for the England trip. Defenders Gorrotxategi, Marín and Odriozola are staying behind to continue rehabilitation, and Mikel Oyarzabal and Gonçalo Guedes are still on post-tournament break. Those absences remove important experience from the matchday pool, prompting Matarazzo to call on fringe and youth talent to fill matchday numbers.
The injured players are on personalised programs at Zubieta, with the club monitoring recovery timelines ahead of the LaLiga season. The coaching staff have made clear that no risks will be taken with long-term recoveries, prioritising fitness for the competitive calendar. Meanwhile, the continuing vacations for Oyarzabal and Guedes reflect the club’s agreement to allow players time to recharge after demanding seasons and international duty.
Kubo and Sucic reintegrated into the first-team setup
Take Kubo and Luka Sucic have rejoined the group and will travel with the squad to England, giving Matarazzo additional technical options. Kubo returned to training with the first team the day before departure and will have the chance to build match fitness ahead of the league campaign. Sucic completed his return the same day and adds midfield creativity and rotation depth to the touring party.
Both players are considered important components of the tactical plans for the season, and their presence on the trip underscores the manager’s intention to integrate them into the squad sooner rather than later. Their inclusion also provides the coach with more stylistic alternatives in possession and ball progression during the friendlies. Integrating creative players in these matches will help the coaching team assess combinations and pressing structures against high-caliber English opponents.
Youth promotion and squad composition for the visit
Matarazzo has taken a notable contingent of B-team and academy performers on the trip, reflecting a deliberate approach to development and resource management. Goalkeepers Remiro, Marrero and Fraga travelled, while a number of Sanse players — including Fraga, Beitia, Kita, Aguirre, Dani Díaz, Marchal, Ochieng and Carrera — are part of the touring party. The mix of experience and youth is designed to allow younger professionals to gain exposure while senior figures manage minutes and recovery.
The full traveling squad includes a cross-section of positions: Aramburu, Rupérez, Zubeldia, Jon Martín, Pacheco, Beitia, Kita, Aihen, Sergio Gómez, Javi López, Turrientes, Herrera, Carlos Soler, Aguirre, Lebarbier, Zakharyan, Sucic, Goti, Dani Díaz, Marchal, Ochieng, Take, Barrenetxea, Óskarsson and Carrera, alongside the three goalkeepers. This selection grants Matarazzo flexibility to field varied lineups across the two matches and to deploy youth in realistic competitive settings.
Carlos Fernández reportedly close to leaving
Carlos Fernández has been omitted from the trip as he completes individual training while his future is sorted, with recent reports linking him to a move to Real Oviedo. The forward’s exclusion suggests that negotiations are in advanced stages and that the club is preparing for his departure in order to finalise offensive planning for the rest of preseason. Fernández has trained separately while the club and interested parties work on a potential agreement.
If the move to Oviedo or another club materialises, it would free up a squad slot and potentially allow Real Sociedad to prioritise minutes for remaining forwards. The club appears intent on facilitating moves that are in the best sporting interests of the players and the team balance. Transfers of this nature are commonplace in this phase of the window, as clubs refine squads after initial preseason assessments.
What the friendlies will reveal ahead of LaLiga
The Wolverhampton and Aston Villa matches provide a rare consecutive test against Premier League systems and intensity that can reveal readiness for the season. For Matarazzo, these fixtures are not merely about results but about assessing tactical cohesion, player fitness and the impact of new or returning players. The two matches will offer an opportunity to trial combinations, press structures and set-piece routines under simulated competitive stress.
Coaching staff will closely monitor individual workloads to avoid injuries and to ensure returning internationals or recently recovered players can be managed sensibly once they rejoin. For younger players, the games are an audition to stake a claim for earlier integration into first-team plans. The coaching team will collate data from match play and training to inform selection choices in the weeks leading up to the league opener.
Real Sociedad return from England with fresh evaluations and likely roster adjustments. The tour will have provided clarity on fringe players, the status of injuries, and the most effective tactical shapes for the season. The club’s handling of possible departures such as Karrikaburu and Carlos Fernández will shape final squad make-up as LaLiga approaches.
