To be or to be, that’s the dilemma

I hope for the good of Shakespeare Don’t turn in your grave when reading these lines – how pretentious I am – but I thought paraphrasing one of his most famous phrases was appropriate to the text. Last week, in this same space, we argued about the need to preserve the status of an important team in Europe that Real Sociedad has acquired in recent times. Surprisingly, after a few hours, the president Jokin Aperribaywithin the framework of the General Shareholders’ Meeting, reflected on this same question and asked the following question out loud: “Are we European or are we in Europe?” And the question is that. La Real has managed, not without great effort and with significant ups and downs, to appear on the European scene from time to time, and that’s no bad thing. But that doesn’t make you a “European citizen” properly. It gives you, in the best cases, the status of a tourist, an occasional visitor. They invite you from time to time, you enjoy the moment, you let yourself be dazzled by the splendor of the Champions League or the Europa League, and then they say goodbye until the stars align again. But that does not mean “being European.”

Real Sociedad has achieved important achievements outside the playing fields, such as a relevant presence in the ECA (European Club Association), and that is good because it puts the club very close to the executive power bodies of continental football. But that doesn’t give you the status of inherently “European” either. Only the rescued claim Afternoonwhich appears in Europe on a recurring basis, that is, year after year, is what will finally give you a passport that will prove your status as a European citizen in full compliance with the law.

That is why we will not tire of repeating and valuing the results obtained by the group of Imanol in the past five years. La Real has put itself on the map and doesn’t want to leave it. Being is not the same as being, that’s the dilemma

The door is still open

With the opening of the winter market just around the corner, speculation, as always, is running high. Imanol’s words on Sunday only fuel that thesis Sadiqas he is the star of this series, coming out in the coming weeks. The Nigerian’s contribution is not secondary, rather residual, and that is something neither the club nor the footballer himself can afford. La Real has invested a huge amount of money in acquiring their services and the profits from the operation could not be more difficult. Then we can start the debate on the possible reasons that explain such a failure, but the data is what it is and speaks very well. Neither the footballer is willing to play such a marginal role – nor can he – nor is the club willing to wait any longer, while one of its most valuable assets loses value with each passing day. It is easy to predict that he will end up, sooner or later, playing for a team other than Real, where his career seems to have ended sadly, barring an unexpected twist in the script. The exit door was ajar earlier and now it opened wide

2

Remiro’s fun

Real Sociedad’s defensive numbers this season are so great that it’s inevitable to focus on the goalkeeper. Remiro is having an amazing time and the most visible sign is his eternal smile. As he said recently Imanol, Remiro You enjoy yourself and that is the first place to achieve emotional balance: Alex perfectly manages your emotions

3

Departure, singular

With the opening of the winter market and after hearing Imanol admit that some exits will definitely take place, everything is pointing in the same direction. There are other personalized movement possibilities for youth players, such as Magunazelaia either Urko. However, both Eibarress and the Gasteiztarran seem to play their role naturally while waiting for more opportunities soon.