Villarreal CF confirmed in May the departure of Marcelino García Toral following contractual disagreements, and now the Asturian manager is on the verge of signing with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli. The Yellow Submarine, who finished the 2025 La Liga season in 3rd place with 72 points (22 wins, 6 draws, 10 losses), have already appointed Iñigo Pérez as his replacement.
Why did Marcelino leave Villarreal CF?
The split stemmed from a failure to agree on a contract extension. Marcelino, who joined the club as a free agent, could not reach terms with the board, and the managerial role was handed to Iñigo Pérez. The team, with 72 goals scored and 46 conceded, finished 22 points behind league winners Barcelona.
What does Al-Ahli offer Marcelino?
The Saudi club, which ended last season in 3rd place in its domestic league, aims to overtake Al-Nassr (Cristiano Ronaldo’s team) and Al-Hilal (Karim Benzema’s side). Marcelino would arrive on a free transfer, bringing experience from his previous stint abroad at Olympique de Marseille, though that spell lasted just seven games due to off-field issues.
How does this impact Villarreal CF?
The team from the Valencian Community has already turned the page under Iñigo Pérez. The squad, which closed 2025 with a WLLDW record in its last five matches, is now preparing for the new season with the goal of staying in the upper echelons of the table.
