First Team
UD Almería pass LaLiga Santander test with flying colours
The Rojiblancos secured league survival as they made Primera Division debut with the second youngest squad in Spain along with that of Real Sociedad
UD Almería were back in the big time last season with 17 players out of 25 who had never played in the Primera Division. It is the team with the most Spanish top-flight debutants surpassed only by Valencia CF. Robertone, Lázaro, El Bilal Touré, Fernando, Babić, Samú Costa and Ramazani have had a quick adaptation to the elite football in Spain.
Lucas Robertone, has been one of the standout performers throughout the season. The Argentinian has become the 5th player with the most assists to his name in the LaLiga Santander (8). In addition, he shares the UD Almeria podium together with Vinicius and Isi Palazón as one of the footballers who has been fouled the most times on the 38 Matchdays.
Lázaro Vinicius, who is 21 years old, has become the youngest footballer to score a hat-trick in Spain, beating Vinicius. The Brazilian has made his mark on the Club history as the first player who has scored three goals wearing the UD Almería jersey in the top flight. The great end to the 2022/23 season for him means that he is the Rojiblanco attacker with the best goalscoring average, a goal scored every 142 minutes.
Striker El Bilal Touré, who is also 21 years old, has adapted really quickly to Spanish football as he has netted 7 goals in his first season as a Rojiblanco.
Samú Costa, 21 years old, after making his debut as a UD Almería player in the top tier, has clocked up a century of fixtures for the Indálicos. Coinciding this debut in the Primera Division with his Portugal U21 debut, where he is now a regular international in the Portuguese team. The Lusitanian defensive midfielder has just joined up with his national team to compete in the European Championship that is going to be held in Georgia and Romania, where he will arm-wrestle Ramazani, who has been called up by Belgium U21. The left-winger has been one of the standout performers last season.
Srđan Babić, whose footballing career got off to a flying start at UD Almería, has been a regular starter in Rubi's starting XIs. The Serbian has also debuted with his home country in the World Cup in Qatar. As a Rojiblanco, Babić has been one of the top-scoring defenders in the LaLiga Santander, finding the back of the net three times in his first season in the Spanish league.
Last but not least, Fernando Martínez, who despite being one of the most veteran UD Almería first teamers, has been the third goalkeeper who has made the most saves throughout the championship in his first campaign in the top flight.