Athletic Club captain Iker Muniain has been the face of Los Leones for over a decade, debuting in Bilbao at the age of just 16. However increasingly it looks as if he might consider a departure.
Under Ernesto Valverde, who has used Muniain effectively in his first two spells as Athletic coach, this time the 30-year-old has been a bit-part player, in particular this season. El Txingurri has used Muniain just three times from the start, and for just 280 minutes over the first 10 games. All of those starts came in the absence of Oihan Sancet through suspension or injury.
With El Txingurri preferring Nico and Inaki Williams out wide, and Sancet through the middle Muniain has no natural starting spot, while youngster Unai Gomez has begun taking minutes from Muniain too. Relevo point out that while money will never be an issue, Muniain is one of 12 players out of contract next summer and free to negotiate form January onwards.
Second on the list of all-time appearance-makers for Athletic (543) behind Txopo (614), Muniain’s departure would be a symbolic change of generation for the Basque side. Losing his experience and leadership would be a blow, but nevertheless, if he continues to have such a small role, Muniain may consider leaving.
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