“It’s not worth contributing only in the locker room, I want to contribute on the field”

Mikel Balenziaga Yesterday, he renewed his contract with Athletic for one more season, until June 30, 2023. The player appeared today in Lezama to assess his contract extension, having just completed 34 years. “About a month ago Rafa (Alkorta) met me and told me that they wanted me for one more year. Seeing what happened last season and especially in this one, it was clear to me that I was in a position to stay for one more year. The truth is that meeting with Rafa I was very excited”, explained the player.

“I have always said that I want to continue playing as long as I see myself contributing to the team and feel useful. And above all adding, starting with the pitch. It is not enough for me to just contribute in the locker room, I would like to continue contributing on the pitch and as long as I see it that way, I have always said that I would like to be at Athletic”, he added.

The player didn’t think much about it: “I didn’t have to think about the situation a lot. He was clear that to renew at Athletic he wanted to continue feeling useful, he wanted to continue contributing to the team, adding, but not only in the locker room, but also on the pitch. When they told me, I thought about it a bit because things have to be thought through, but I quickly came to that conclusion”.

Zumarraga’s man is clear that it’s not just the contribution in the locker room that counts: “I think they would have taken that work into account to offer me to continue, but if they had offered me the renewal just for that facet, not feeling useful to help the team in the field of play, I would not have accepted it”.

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The Gipuzkoan wanted to continue playing. “What he was clear about is that he wanted to continue playing football. I am super happy to have renewed here, but if Athletic had taken the step of not renewing, I would have liked to continue playing, especially because I feel good and I continue to be very excited. I like football a lot and I love coming to train every day”.

Marcelino requested on March 6 its renewal and that of Oscar de Marcos, whose contract also ends on June 30. “I loved his words, I am very grateful that he has that opinion about me. When you hear those kinds of words towards yourself, it makes you feel proud.”

Athletic’s ’24’ has played 28 games this season, the same ones he played the entire previous year. What is the key to maintaining this regularity? “The numbers are there. I have been able to play many games, I have felt comfortable on the pitch and I continue to do so. I haven’t had to think about the decision much because I see that I continue to contribute to the team both on and off the pitch”.

When the 2021-22 season began, I already knew that it could be the last. Finally there will be another one. “When this season started, it was clear to me that it could be the last. I was wearing it as such, enjoying a lot from day to day, everything that happens to us both in the locker room and outside it, enjoying my teammates, every game, everything… Now I’m very happy that this isn’t my last season”, he stated.

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