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jul 11 2026The Madrid native returns to Fernando Martín after posting his best Primera FEB season last year with Melilla.
In this way, Iñaki Martín's team acquires a high-quality power forward capable of spacing the floor. Additionally, the veteran 34-year-old player (turning 35 on October 24) has experience in Spain's top basketball division with Betis, Bilbao, Breogán, Tenerife, and Zaragoza. The player posted his career-best numbers this season, with 12.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and a 44% three-point shooting percentage, averaging 2 three-pointers made per game. With this strong performance, Iván Cruz returns to the south Madrid team after his stint with the club in the 2024/25 season.
These impressive numbers earned him an average rating of 15.9 per game, making him the sixth-highest rated player in the league and the top-rated Spanish player. Just ahead, with the fifth-best rating, is point guard Mateo Díaz. The Argentine will be one of his teammates next season after the club made his renewal official on July 1. A renewal of great importance for Fuenlabrada, as Mateo Díaz was one of the key players last season. The club's management surprisingly secured the player, as he was expected to be the most sought-after player on the market, but Díaz ultimately chose to stay at Fernando Martín despite receiving higher financial offers.
Iván Cruz's return fulfills another of the team's coach's demands since the surprising departure of Alex Murphy in December last year: a power forward capable of opening up the floor. His ability to threaten from beyond the arc gives Iñaki Martín an option the team lacked last season and expands the offensive versatility of the Fuenlabrada squad.
With this signing, Baloncesto Fuenlabrada confirms its first acquisition, having so far limited itself to retaining players from last season with the renewals of Vítor Benite, Romaric Belemene, and Mateo Díaz, as well as head coach Iñaki Martín. The signing has been well-received by much of the fanbase on social media, who celebrate the quality and profile of the acquisition.
Despite the signing, the team's roster is not expected to be completed soon, as Fuenlabrada operates with a smaller budget than projects like Estudiantes, Gran Canaria, Palencia, Cantabria, or Alicante, which do have greater financial resources. Therefore, the Madrid club will have to wait for these teams to finish their signings to complete its roster for the 2026/27 season.
