Athletic’s Pursuit of Jesus Areso: A Clause or Nothing
Athletic will have a brief negotiation with Osasuna in their attempt to sign Jesus Areso. The side will only leave Pamplona for the full payment of the clause, which in this contract that expires in 2026 is set at 12 million euros. The rojiblanco club has Cascante as their priority objective for the next course, but they intended to negotiate a reduction. Osasuna, however, will not open that door. If Areso wants to sign for Athletic, it will be on the condition that they assume the payment of the termination clause.
Operation Areso: A Familiar Scenario
The Operation Areso is underway, and Athletic already knows what Osasuna’s position is. It doesn’t differ much from what happened last summer, when Athletic tried to sign Oroz, who had a contract with Osasuna pending renewal. Athletic never reached 28 million euros, and the Olympic champion eventually renewed his contract. This time, Areso is the player Athletic considers most essential to reinforce the right side, especially with three competitions and a potential Champions League campaign on the horizon.
No Room for Negotiation
Areso, who has not yet responded to Osasuna’s offer to renew his contract, is the top priority for Athletic. Osasuna will not negotiate anything different from the clause, even if a Champions League team offers around 18 million euros for participating in the competition. Osasuna will remain firm until the end, even if the player starts the campaign without renewing and his future is up in the air. Other clubs have been monitoring the footballer, but none has made a formal offer. If Athletic wants Areso without paying the 12 million euros for his clause, they must wait until June 2026, if no other team meets Osasuna’s demands.