CSKA Sofia Names New Captain in Mid-Season Shift
[Video of Andelo Martino’s debut with CSKA Sofia is embedded here – referencing the original Facebook link]
CSKA Sofiaโข has designatedโข Spanish defender Adrian Lapenya as the team’s new captain, a change revealed during โa โคFriday friendly match against Radnitsa Surdulitsa. The decision marks a shiftโ inโข leadership following the departure of Liam Cooper and comesโ as the club integrates several new players into its roster.
Lapenya wore the captain’s armband despite the presence of Gustavo Busatat, who previously filled the โคroleโค after Cooper’s exit. It remains โคunclear whether theโฃ changeโ is a temporary experiment by manager Dusan Kerkez โขorโฃ a permanent appointment, but โขthe move signals a potential new direction for the โteam’s on-field leadership. This adjustment occurs as CSKA navigates a period ofโข player absences due to national โฃteamโ commitments and actively incorporates recent signings.
Recent addition โAndelo Martino, a 27-year-old Argentine left back who signed with CSKA onโ Tuesday, made โคhis โคunofficial debut in the match against Radnitsaโข Surdulitsa, playing 34 minutes as a substitute for David Pastor. Martino last played for Newells Old Boys on August 23 andโ enters the team in good form. Pastor, a Brazilian nominally a rightโ back, has been deployed on the left side of the defense dueโค to current squad limitations.
The team fieldedโ a four-defender formation featuring Lapenya and Brian โขKordoba at center back, with Ivan Turitsov starting on the right. โคCSKA will continue preparations during the international break, โขwith Martino and Pastor expected to further integrateโ into the squad ahead of upcoming competitive fixtures.