Santander, December 13 (EFE). – Racing hopes to announce some steps in 2026 for the club’s new sports city, which will most likely be located “outside Santander”, said president Manolo Higuera at the shareholders meeting, where he revealed that “steps have already been taken to build the project”.
Higuera believes that Nando Yosu’s facilities have become too small, pointing out that the Santander City Council has not taken any action to expropriate the adjacent land that would allow the club to enlarge the training ground in Santander’s La Albericia district.
“It makes me sad because I have lived and spent my whole life in La Albericia, but our only alternative is to build a new sports city and this will most likely be moved outside of Santander,” he added.
Before the shareholders’ meeting, which was convened for the first time and at which all of the day’s points were approved 100 percent by those present, the racing board reported that the club’s income had increased by 37 percent.
In this sense, Higuera has highlighted the increase in advertising and sponsorship, which has increased by 75 percent, as well as the store’s turnover, in addition, Higuera has made the bankruptcy debts disappear and regained ownership of his own brand, which had been in the hands of the Government of Cantabria since 2006.
He explained that last year the club received around 4.5 million euros for the transfer of Gerard Fernández “Peque” to Sevilla and for variables from the sale of Pablo Torre to Barcelona.
However, the club’s staff spending has increased by 67 percent, in addition to the number of registered workers rising to 12 million, as Higuera believes “this is the year” for promotion.
Regarding the debts at Sebman Sports International, where Higuera is a partner, he has clarified that there is no obligation to pay interest, although he acknowledges that in the event of exceptional income, the aim is to clean up the club and get closer to zero debt.
“We would not need many seasons in the first class to achieve this freedom from debt,” said the green-white president, who explained that the debt was not externalized because if it was not necessary to change the owner of the loan, he would prefer to keep it with Sebman.
Nevertheless, it is clear that the club is growing and investing in different areas, so that the overall structure is getting better and better in order to get closer to the goal of returning to the First Division.
“That is our strategy. We want the club to continue to grow to prepare it for Racing’s return to the First Division, although I think we already have a structure adapted to the First Division,” he stressed.
The green and white president has reported that the club has created a new company, Racing Innovai SL, to develop technological products.
“We are developing a computer platform, Racing360, so that both the first team and the youth team can use it, and we hope to internationalize the brand and attract large groups who want to invest in the product,” he clarified.
Regarding the improvements to the stadium, Higuera has pointed out that Racing has currently signed an agreement with the Santander City Council, obliging both parties to take action.
However, he regretted that the city council has stopped implementing nine measures for the time being. “I want the waterproofing of the facade to be finalized, the El Sardinero renovation project approved and accessibility improved,” he emphasized.
He admitted he was upset because the needs of sports fields were “great” and warned that there were people who could not go to football because “a municipal stadium does not comply with the law”.
Manolo Higuera announced that the process of the social responsibility lawsuit against former presidents Ángel Lavín “Harry” and Francisco Pernía, as well as the lawyer and former club advisor Weber Horst, has resumed, saying that it is expected that in the short to medium term it will be possible to end a process that began many years ago.
Higuera has claimed that the sport in Cantabria feels like it is being “watered down” and believes Racing has a responsibility to try to promote the rest of the sport.
“I think the way to help is to integrate them and convert a department into either handball or basketball. We have always thought about multi-sports and we have not stopped looking at the inclusion of Sinfín handball, for example.
As for the possibility of Sergio Canales returning to Real Racing Club, he has indicated that it is “his dream”, acknowledging that “if it were possible next January, it would be better than August 2026 or 2027.”
However, he has recognized that Rayados de Monterrey – where the Cantabrian player now plays – is a “champion club” and has stated that he does not want to take any steps that could cause discomfort to the player or the Mexican team. EFE
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