Fran Pérez makes unofficial debut

In Valencia CF's fourth preseason friendly of the summer, further VCF Academy players got summer minutes for the first team. One unofficial debutant in the game against FC Cartagena was Fran Pérez.

Pérez, the son of club legend and former LaLiga winner Rufete, was brought on in the closing minutes to replace Vicente Esquerdo. The young talent is in his eighth season at the VCF Academy, and is currently part of the club's Juvenil side.

Five future stars from the VCF Academy have made unofficial first appearances for the first team this preseason: Yunus Musah, Hugo González, Pedro Alemañ, Alex Carbonell and Pérez.

"I'm very happy. I've spent 7 years in the VCF Academy and have been working hard every day in search of a clear objective. To receive a reward like this for my hard work is a source of pride," Pérez said after the game.

"I thank the coach for the minutes he gave me. Thanks to my family as well, who have been there during the good and the bad times, and my friends who are watching at home. Thanks for all their support and confidence in me."

"Now that I'm a little calmer I'll try to take it all in. I'm tremendously happy and very emotional. I enjoyed the 5 or 10 minutes I played, and that motivates me to keep working to see if I can have more opportunities."