Gaizka Toquero, beyond tomorrow’s game at the Calderón, talks to MD about Valverde’s renewal, the future of Nico Williams and Sancet, Real’s youth academy…
What do you think of Valverde’s renewal?
For me he is the best coach I ever had and I told him personally on DAZN recently. This is good news because for me Ernesto is a very good coach, very Athletic. Know the house, know the players, the Athetic feeling…
You are familiar with the world of soccer player representation…
Now (hopefully) the agency has become a bit of a consultancy and we are doing methodology things, academies… A few days ago I came back from India because I have a partner there and we are trying to bring football knowledge from here to India. I am into many things and everything related to football.
Do you find it difficult to renew Nico Williams and Sancet?
I believe in the saying in the end ‘the player plays where he wants’. Obviously they will have offers, of course; but if they are happy at Athletic they will stay. They will have to be paid according to the merits and performance they give on the field and the youth and development they have, but look at Real Sociedad.
What does it refer to?
With the years they do, with the players who leave their youth academy and very few leave Real because the players want to play for Real… I hope and wish the same thing happens with Sancet and Nico Williams. That they need to renew for more money, but they stay because it is a great value and asset for Athletic.
Aren’t Athletic more complicated at that level than other clubs because of their philosophy?
Yes, they have to invest more in the quarry, which is what always happens, but I think we always have the same thing in Athletic. It’s not about Nico leaving and what’s going to happen… What’s going to happen is that there’s another one coming later. When Aduriz, Llorente, Yeste or Etxebe were gone, someone else arrived. It is true that there are times when certain positions remain crippled because there are gaps where no full-backs, midfielders or forwards appear; but in the end, over time, Athletic works well in the quarry and good players always come out. Susaeta, an institution, left, Nico came; Aduriz left and now Iñaki Williams, Oihan, Guru are there…
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
