The lions have little more than a week of vacation left. Marcelino has set for on July 7, San Fermín, the start of Athletic's preseason, but its players will begin to approach Lezama two days before to undergo the corresponding medical tests. The new course will start rolling from there.
The Asturian coach made it clear as soon as he landed in Bilbao that he likes to work with a squad of around 20 players. He said it in the middle of the winter transfer market and reiterated it again shortly before the lions said goodbye to the League at the Martínez Valero. A tricky business, no matter where you look.
If the panorama does not change much in this last week, Marcelino can be found on the first day in Lezama with a group of 34 players. The market, at least that is what experts in the field say, is barely moving. Athletic is no stranger to this dynamic, especially when potential suitors already know who does not count for the coach.
The rojiblanco club, like it or not, is also different in this. It all comes down to a simple question of supply and demand and some lions, given what they have seen, are not wanted outside of Lezama either. Movement yes, movement none.