Tenerife Ends Pursuit of Maikel Mesa, Turns Attention to Joni Montiel
Tenerife has officially withdrawn from the bid to reacquire Maikel Mesa from Zaragoza, citing the 500,000 euros required by the Aragonese as an insurmountable obstacle. The blue and whites had previously submitted three offers for the midfielder, but Juan Carlos Lamb rejected the latest proposal.
The Tenerife management believes it is impossible to meet the financial demands and regrets that Mesa’s wishes to return home for the 2024-25 campaign were not taken into consideration. Mesa had expressed his desire to return to the island, and the club had been working to make it happen.
Following the rejection of the third offer, Tenerife has decided to move on and explore alternative options to strengthen their squad. The chosen one to fill the gap is attacking midfielder Joni Montiel, who currently plays for Rayo Vallecano.
Montiel, 25, only has one season left on his contract with Rayo and is expected to decide whether to extend his link with the club or opt for a loan move. If he does not extend his contract, Tenerife is likely to negotiate a deal for his arrival in the summer.
Montiel has enjoyed a successful season in Segunda, accumulating 15 goals and 13 assists in 147 games. His best season was in 2022-23, under the guidance of Javier Calleja, during which he scored seven goals.
Tenerife’s new signing has a connection with the club, having previously played with Alex Cantero, the most recent addition to the team’s Oscar Cano project. Montiel is currently participating in preseason training with Rayo and made his debut in the team’s friendly against Sporting Braga in Portugal.