Luis Carbonell signs for Barbastro after dramatic weight‑loss comeback

Luis Carbonell, the 23‑year‑old former Real Zaragoza prospect, has secured a contract with Tercera Federación side Barbastro, marking his return to competitive football after a period in which he could barely walk and weighed 98.5 kg. The signing comes on the back of a remarkable physical transformation – more than 18 kg shed in just six weeks – that convinced Barbastro coach Iván Martínez to hand the striker a place in his squad.

Martínez set a non‑negotiable condition for the deal: Carbonell had to reach 80 kg within a month and a half or lose the opportunity. “He put me on the scales and said, ‘If in a month and a half you get to 80 kilos, you’ll always have a spot here,’” the forward recalled, confirming he met the target and earned his contract.

The weight loss was driven by a disciplined regimen supervised by Carbonell’s lifelong mentor Javi Logedo. “I learned what to eat and what to avoid. It was a painful process, but the results speak for themselves,” Carbonell said, adding that his partner, parents and close friend Fernando kept him motivated during the darkest moments.

Beyond the physical battle, the ordeal forced a harsh self‑evaluation. “I realized I had lost everything because of my own decisions. The desire to play became stronger than ever,” he explained, noting that Martínez’s support now feels more like family than a typical coach‑player relationship.

While his knees remain a concern, Carbonell feels they are being managed carefully. “For now they work, and Iván monitors my workload closely. Every day I feel better,” he said, emphasizing that health is the foundation of any future ambition.

Only weeks after signing, Carbonell made his debut for Barbastro, demonstrating that his fitness is returning to match‑ready levels. His ultimate goal is to climb back to professional football, ideally rejoining Real Zaragoza where he spent 14 years in the academy. “I want to become the Luis Carbonell people believed in, and I’ll get there step by step,” he declared, praising Zaragoza’s new project under Ibai Gómez for restoring joy to the locker room.

Carbonell’s story underscores the importance of clubs offering second chances and the power of personal resilience to overcome health crises, providing a hopeful narrative for players facing similar battles.