Vargas Faces Race Against Time for San Mamés Trip
Rubén Vargas faces a race against time to feature for Sevilla FC ahead of their LaLiga EA Sports fixture against Athletic Club at San Mamés, after missing Friday’s final training session due to persistent discomfort in his right knee, according to club reports.
The Swiss winger’s absence from the grass at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium casts serious doubt over his availability for the Matchday 2 encounter.
Clearing Up Transfer Rumors Amid Gym Workouts
According to club disclosures, Vargas trained inside the gym following an initial team talk on Thursday, August 20, 2026, before leaving the pitch. Reports from El Desmarque noted that the winger briefly stepped onto the turf during the Thursday session before departing shortly after the manager’s address. While initial speculation tied his early exit to ongoing transfer rumors linking him with Greek side Olympiakos, club sources confirmed the departure stemmed from minor physical discomfort rather than an imminent departure.
Managing Recovery After a Condensed Summer
Nevertheless, the compounding physical setbacks complicate what has already been an turbulent start to the campaign for the former Augsburg attacker, who is managing his recovery schedule following a condensed summer post-World Cup. Given his lack of a conventional pre-season routine, club staff have adopted a cautious approach to minimize injury risks.
Sidelined Stars and Returning Faces in Seville
Vargas is not the only absentee on the treatment table for the Nervión outfit. Brazilian defender Marcao remains sidelined and absent from group training while managing muscle edema issues, alongside ongoing speculation regarding interest from clubs in his home country, as detailed by El Correo Web.
Meanwhile, left-back Adrià Pedrosa and midfielder Fábio Cardoso continue to train in isolation after being deemed surplus to requirements by the coaching staff. On a more positive note for the squad, Alfon González returned to partial group training this week following a fibrillar tear in his right quadriceps sustained during the opening days of pre-season preparations.
New Arrival Kochorashvili Eyes Bilbao Squad
The traveling squad for Bilbao may also feature recent arrival Giorgi Kochorashvili. The Georgian midfielder arrived in Seville on Thursday night, August 20, 2026, to finalize a four-year contract following a transfer fee exceeding four million euros, according to El Chiringuito reporting cited by El Correo Web. Despite missing Friday’s final workout, club officials have not ruled out the possibility of Kochorashvili making the trip to San Mamés.
Sevilla will look to finalize their matchday squad ahead of kickoff, with Luis García Plaza expected to address squad fitness and availability during his pre-match press conference.
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