Málaga CF are dealing with the season-ending injury of forward Julen Lobete, which has prompted the club's sporting management to consider a move into the free agent market. As reported by Marca, the club has not made a final decision and will assess the need for a replacement in the coming days.
Julen Lobete, a Málaga CF player, suffered an injury affecting the anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in his left knee. The attacker, under contract until June 2027, will undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the campaign. The club will continue to pay his full salary throughout his recovery.
What options does Málaga CF have now?
LaLiga regulations allow clubs to process a federative release for a long-term injury, freeing up a squad spot to sign a replacement. This mechanism, amended in 2020 following the controversial move of Martin Braithwaite from Leganés to Barcelona, only permits the signing of an out-of-contract player. Málaga CF could use up to 80% of Lobete's salary allocation for a new signing.
Sporting director Loren Juarros had previously stated that "the club still had margin within its salary limit". With 27 players in the first-team squad, the option is on the table. However, according to Radio MARCA Málaga, the club's initial stance is to wait and assess the sporting impact of this loss before acting.
How does this loss affect the Málaga 2026 squad?
Lobete's absence is a significant blow to the team's attacking options. The forward was a piece within a group that now must readjust. You can check the full state of the roster on our squad page.
The federative release would be sporting, not contractual, meaning the injured player remains under contract but frees a slot for a substitute. This rule is designed to mitigate situations of force majeure like the current one, where a player is sidelined for more than five months.
What is the next step for the club?
Málaga CF's sporting direction, led by Loren Juarros, is processing the consequences of the injury. No immediate deadline for a decision has been set, but it is expected that in the coming days the club will determine if the free agent market offers a viable alternative to compensate for the loss. The team operates from the La Rosaleda stadium in Martiricos.
The competitive schedule continues and the team must prepare for its upcoming fixtures. Fans can follow the team's progress and check the next matches in our fixtures section. The next league match is scheduled for the weekend of September 12th, a game Málaga CF will face without one of their forwards.
