Strategic renewal at Athletic, by Carlos Zaballa

INigo Martinez The contract ends on June 30, 2023. No one doubts that at this time he is a fundamental value for Athletic. It is a unanimous opinion in the rojiblanco environment. Not only this season, but since he arrived to relieve Aymeric Laporte. So much so that he quickly made the also great central defender who now plays for Manchester City forget.

The question is whether to undertake its renewal now, before the end of the mandate of the current Board of Directors, or leave it for the leaders who take the reins of Ibaigane in the next legislature. Aitor Elizegi it seems that he opted for the second option last Friday, but Rafa Alkorta left the door open in Onda Vasca to do it in these three and a half months that remain before the June elections.

It is better to do these things as soon as possible and even more so in an international footballer with top-level performance, as the defender from Ondarroa is demonstrating. The club would thus avoid an important uncertainty for the next season. Doubts will increase the longer he spends without him extending his contract, also taking into account that as of January 1 of next year he can negotiate and sign with any other team.

Time plays against the club in this case. The pressure increases as the months go by and negotiations can stall, as we have seen in the case of Ander Capa. Therefore, the earlier, the better. We would avoid a major uneasiness.