The right side demarcation continues to bring queue in Bilbao. A few years ago, decades even, no footballer wanted to wear the number 2 on his back because it was considered a jinxed number. Now, beyond the figure itself, the right defense position lends itself to all kinds of debate and controversy in the rojiblanco environment.
Petxa, Athletic’s last ‘signing’ who landed in Lezama from Real, saw fit to wear the 2 in his first season as a lion. De Marcos, Lekue and Capa, their competitors in that demarcation, opted a long time ago for a different number despite having the right due to seniority in the rojiblanco club to choose the one they liked the most from those who were free.
Under Marcelino’s orders, the issue of superstition with Athletic’s number 2 hardly had any significance. Black pudding wore it in his first year under the baton first of Garitano and then of the Asturian coach himself and, after his transfer to Valladolid, the number in question passed into the possession of the aforementioned Petxa. The left-handed winger from Amorebieta, by the way, had inherited that same digit from Ganea who, in turn, had received it from Kenan Kodro.
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This season, in short, the problems related to the 2 have had more to do with tactical issues or the choice of the coach than with anything else. While Lekue and De Marcos alternated as starters on the right side, Petxa had his few options and Capa spent the entire season, except for the last minutes against Osasuna, on the bench or even in the stands.
The problem spreads
Around the back and forth around the right-back position at Athletic, the problem has also spread to the rojiblanco subsidiary. Jesús Areso, the right-back called up to play for the rojiblanco first team, spent all of last season without competing by refusing to accept the renewal offer that had been made to him in Lezama. The Navarrese, for whom the Ibaigane entity had paid his termination clause years before, signed after being released by Osasuna, although a serious knee injury has forced him to spend practically the entire League blank.
When Areso left, Álvaro Nuñez’s name gained momentum when it came to being the future right-back for the rojiblanco first team. Nothing could be further from reality, seen what has been seen, since Athletic is going to choose not to execute the option of renewing the contract of today’s still a puppy. Now, after the agur of Areso and Nuñez, the name of Hugo Rincón appears from Lezama.
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