Fran Rico: I was very happy at Granada and hope to be just as happy, or even more so, here at Eibar
The Pontevedra-born midfielder was officially unveiled this morning and joins Eibar on a two-year loan deal
Speaking at his official unveiling, new Eibar signing Fran Rico, who joins the club on a two-season loan deal from Granada CF, stated that, "I was very happy at Granada, I felt very much at home during my five years there and I hope to be just as happy, or even more so, here at Eibar".
"Eibar were the club to express the greatest interest in me. There had been interest from the club in the past and I had no doubts about coming here. I'm very happy to be here. New people have come in at Granada and I'd been there for five years and I needed a new challenge, something new to get excited about. The opportunity to come here ticked all the boxes in terms of me feeling wanted and enjoying my football".
"The international break will be ideal for me, it'll allow me to take the coach's ideas on board and get to know my teammates. I can see that there's a real family feel within the squad and everyone is helping me to settle in as best as possible. I hope to be firing on all cylinders as soon as possible".
"Escalante and (Dani) García are both very good players and they have a really good understanding between themselves. They do a very important job defensively and are also very good on the ball. There'll be really good competition between us, but that can only be positive for the team. Putting the coach in a position where he's got difficult decisions to make is in everyone's best interests".
"Mendilibar offered me his congratulations and welcomed me to the club. In the first session, I could see what he wants from us and his expectations in training, which are very high. I hope that in time he will go through what he wants and expects of me. I'm sure that in these two weeks what I need to do will become very clear, and everything will be much easier. I'm looking to bring hard work, commitment and will make myself available to the gaffer to play anywhere he thinks I can do a job. I like to get on the ball, but I also help out defensively. I hope to be able to always offer the team exactly what it needs".
SD Eibar's director of football, Fran Garagarza admitted that Rico, "is a player we've been after since the last winter transfer window".
"He possesses the experience we were looking for. He's a versatile holding midfielder. He can play as a holding midfielder as part of a central two, as a lone holding midfielder, or as part of a midfield three. He's a player who complements our existing squad well and offers the coach a lot of options. We've worked very hard to get him here. He brings experience and assurance. Bringing in a young player like Cristian Rivera is balanced out by the signing of Fran Rico and that's what we were after. We didn't want to go and sign another inexperienced midfielder, but rather someone with top-flight pedigree".
"We had received very good references about Fran's personality from a lot of people and he's proved them right in the two days he's been here. We wanted to give the coach plenty of options in that area of the pitch by having five players who are capable of operating in there. He's now got several different combinations he can use and that ensures that we've got strength in depth that will serve us right through to the end of the season".
The club's director of football went on to reveal that despite having joined the club on loan from Granada, Rico will be available for selection against his parent club in both of the sides' meetings this season.
During her address, club president Amaia Gorostiza welcomed Rico to the club. "We wish you the best of success, your success is ours too and I hope that you'll feel at home here. You have some great teammates and a family that welcomes you in with open arms".