There were contacts with Barça. Of course, but I also told my agents not to get too excited. I was very clear that Athletic were not going to let me leave if a club did not come and pay the €40 million of the termination clause.
"We wanted to create an award that recognised most kids growing up dream of playing for one club. On the other side, we wanted to show despite all the big-money transfers in modern-day football, there are top players all over the world who want to become one-club players."
Legendary manager Marcelo Bielsa has taken charge at four clubs since 2000 and we want you to name the five players he selected most often at each one of them to make up a total of 20 trusted regulars for you to find. We've given you just 10 minutes to put your knowledge of Athletic Club, Marseille, Lille and Leeds United in this quick-fire football quiz.
Alex Berenguer scored a late winner as Athletic Club inflicted Atletico Madrid's second LaLiga defeat in four days, with Ernesto Valverde's side triumphing 1-0 at San Mames. Having lost 3-1 to Barcelona at Camp Nou on Tuesday, Diego Simeone's side lost further ground at the top of the table as they slipped up in a game of few clear-cut chances. Athletic had the better of a low-key first half, but Gorka Guruzeta shot wide following a flowing move 10 minutes in, while Nico Williams curled narrowly wide from distance.
Now, according to SPORT, Fermin's physical problem originated in Barcelona's La Liga game against Athletic Club last weekend. It came specifically from Oihan Sancet's very harsh tackle, a play in which the Athletic midfielder caught Fermin on his leg, forcing him to remain on the ground for a long moment and showing clear signs of pain. Sancet was sent off for the challenge.
What I thought might happen in five, six, seven years happened in 19 days. It was August 2018, Simon was 21 and although he had been training at Athletic Club for a decade, and with the first team for three years, the son of police officers from Vitoria didn't think there was a chance of playing in Bilbao any time soon, if at all. It was all he wanted but he didn't even live there any more, moving 800km in search of an opportunity with second division Elche.
