Enol Prendes scores first goal for Sporting de Gijón

Enol Prendes Scores First Senior Goal for Sporting de Gijón in Copa del Rey Victory

Enol Prendes scored his first official goal for Real Sporting de Gijón during a Copa del Rey fixture, converting a left-wing solo effort after entering as a second-half substitute. The midfielder, born in Pola de Laviana, entered the match in the 59th minute with his side trailing before contributing to the comeback that advanced the club to the next round of the tournament.

“Muy contento, es lo que buscas desde que entras en Mareo, jugar un partido con el primer equipo y qué menos que poder marcar algún gol,” Prendes said after the match, describing his relief and satisfaction at breaking through for the senior squad after years in the club’s youth academy.

Contract Status and Academy Pathway to the Senior Squad

Prendes is currently in the final year of a contract that expires in June 2027, following a renewal signed in May 2025. That agreement includes a clause allowing the club to execute a permanent promotion to the senior squad with a professional first-team license and squad number, depending on his sporting evolution under manager Nicolás Larcamón. Because Prendes turns 23 in May, he will age out of the under-23 category at the conclusion of the current campaign, leaving the sporting management at Mareo facing a definitive roster decision regarding his future similar to previous academy cases such as Álex Oyón.

The midfielder’s journey through the club’s Escuela de Fútbol de Mareo began during the 2014-15 season when he joined at the alevín (youth) level. He progressed through the ranks to become a captain and veteran figure for Sporting Atlético, making 67 appearances for the reserve side and scoring five goals during a 35-match stretch in a prior campaign. Over successive seasons, coaching staff members including Aitor Zulaika and Samuel Baños utilized Prendes across various midfield positions—ranging from central interior roles to more advanced attacking midfield placements—before Larcamón integrated him into the senior matchday plans.

Recent Liga Hypermotion Breakthrough Under Larcamón

The current season marks a clear shift in Prendes’s professional standing after training regularly with the senior squad in prior years without securing consistent playing time under previous managers. Under Larcamón, the academy graduate has earned three starts in the Liga Hypermotion, making his first league start against Celta Fortuna on matchday eight and retaining his place in subsequent victories against Cádiz and Albacete.

These appearances have positioned the Laviana native as an impactful substitute option, prompting local media comparisons to a traditional basketball sixth man due to his tendency to inject immediate energy upon entering matches. Club executives plan to evaluate his sustained physical output, tactical adaptability, and squad contribution over the coming months before determining whether to trigger the contract extension clause.