Santi Mina demands Celta Vigo training return before appeal against sexual abuse conviction

Mina was sentenced to four years in prison

Santi Mina has demanded his "immediate reinstatement" to the Celta Vigo squad after he was temporarily dismissed from training after he was sentenced to four years in prison. The LaLiga club announced that Mina, 26, wants to return to first-team training, which comes after Celta opened disciplinary proceedings after he was sentenced to time in prison. https://twitter.com/tsf_podcast/status/1548955706220494848 A statement from the club - translated to English - reads: "In recent hours, RC Celta has received an official communication related to the situation of player Santiago Mina Lorenzo. "Through a bureaufax, it requires RC Celta to immediately join the team's training, so in this case the club is forced to assume the presence of the player from this moment on in the preparation sessions within the stipulated schedules with his teammates. "RC Celta reserves its right to claim, if the judgment becomes final, all damages caused by the player's behavior to the entity, both economic and the image of the club, respecting his right to appeal today. "RC Celta would like to emphasize that the soccer player, given the judicial situation he has generated and that damages the image of this club, has rejected an offer to play in a team from another league. "Finally, the club wants to express that it will never be pressured by any worker who seeks his particular interests and, in addition, shows its surprise at this movement of the player aimed at harming RC Celta, which since the court ruling acted in accordance with the values of this club and its fans and which it will not renounce under any circumstances." https://twitter.com/RCCelta/status/1548951960690245632 The Spaniard was found guilty of sexual abuse in May, however, he has appealed the verdict. The incident occurred in June 2017 when the striker was playing for Valencia. 

Mina was accused of raping a woman in a camper van in Mojacar, south-east Spain, where he was on holiday. The footballer said that the woman gave consent to their sexual relations.

He was cleared of the sexual aggression charge he was also facing, which links to intimidation or violence against a victim.

Celta - who revealed that Mina had rejected an offer to play for a team in another league - said the club "reserves the right to claim, if the conviction is confirmed, all damages caused by the player's behaviour, both financially and in terms of the club's image, while respecting his right to appeal from today".

The former Spain Under-21 attacker, who re-signed for Celta in 2019, has made 163 appearances for the LaLiga club, registering 42 goals and 17 assists over his two spells. 

David Goldar, who was on holiday with Mina at the time, was found not guilty after being accused of being an accomplice. The 27-year-old currently plays for Spanish second-tier side Ibiza.

Related links:

• Santi Mina sentenced to four years in jail for sexual abuse