The preseason will answer several questions both in the club from Vitoria and in Bilbao, and the future of the Biscayne striker is being debated between the two teams, who are studying his signing and reiteration in the squad.
Once the 2022-23 season was over, with the promotion ticket in his pocket, Asier Villalibre left Deportivo Alavés and returned to Athletic Club. The most ideal thing was for the 25-year-old striker to continue in the vitoriana disciplinesince in the half campaign in which he participated, he managed to convince Luis García.
The truth is that Villalibre has returned to the lion team, as he has a contract there until 2025. His coach, Ernesto Valverde, was not very convinced of his return, but decided to start preseason with the Basque striker in his squad. Depending on what he is doing in these preparation matches, his future in the Bilbao squad will be defined. But Alavés also has a lot to do with it.
Alavés is supposed to be Villalibre’s mattress in case of failure, but it will not be like that
In the event that the former Valladolid striker does not convince the coach from Cáceres, he will not be in the 2023-24 squad of the León club. Which means that he will go out on loan again or even transferred. And in case this happens, the albiazul club was the most likely to receive his services. The footballer would also love to return to Mendizorroza, especially after being promoted to the first division.
The question is that Alavés is already planning to sign another striker, and if he manages said contract, Villalibre will be ruled out. Thus, the striker will remain in a kind of limbo, since he will not have a place in Athletic or in the Vitoria team. So from now on the player will have to make a decision, either he takes a risk in the preseason with Valverde, or he decides to express his interest in returning to the Alavesista club immediately.
The signing that Alavés is managing to forget Villalibre
With a past at Valencia CF and RC Celta de Vigo, the sports management under Sergio Fernández is working on the signing of Maxi Gómez. Right now the Uruguayan striker is playing football in Turkey, exactly with Trabzonspor. His performance was not the best, but his numbers were not negative either.
The Uruguayan added 2,543 minutes spread over 37 games, in which he scored 7 goals and 6 assists. His contract with the Ottoman team is signed until 2025, but the 26-year-old footballer would have no problem returning to the Spanish league. On the other hand, Alavés will wait for what happens with Asier Villalibre at Athletic Club.