In: Alejandro Catena (free, Rayo Vallecano), Jose Arnaiz (Leganes), Johan Mojica (loan, Villarreal), Raul Garcia de Haro (Real Betis)
Loan Returns: Jesus Areso (Burgos), Javi Martinez (Huesca), Sergio Moreno (Rayo Vallecano)
Out: Ez Abde (Barcelona), Manu Sanchez (Atletico Madrid/Celta Vigo), Aridane Hernandez (free, Rayo Vallecano), Diego Moreno (loan, Mirandes), Iker Benito (loan, Andorra), Kike Garcia (Alaves)
Summary so far: Osasuna have lost two valuable loan additions from last season in Manu Sanchez and Ez Abde – one of them they have solved, one still requires something else.
Experienced central defender Aridane is off to Rayo Vallecano, and he was starting by the end of last season, but the reason for his exit is the arrival of Alejandro Catena from the same side. Signing a long-term deal, they are set for the best years of a solid central defender, and if they can hold onto David Garcia, then they look set for a solid defence again next season.
Meanwhile pacey wide forward Jose Arnaiz has come back to the side he spent six months on loan at several seasons ago. Arriving on a free, this is another smart pick-up from Sporting Director Braulio Vazquez. That pace is something that is sorely lacking in the Osasuna attack, with an otherwise very good forward line often asking for the ball to feet.
Perhaps it’s too easy to automatically go into praise mode for Osasuna, because they have such a good track record, but Mojica’s arrival certainly seems worthy of it on paper. The Colombian left-back used to fly forward for Elche, but never really got a look in at Villarreal last campaign. Jagoba Arrasate will ask him to do exactly what he has demonstrated he is good at, and there’s a good argument to say he is an upgrade on Sanchez.
We hate to be overly positive, but it’s hard to argue against the signing of Raul Garcia de Haro either. An highly productive target man for Mirandes last season in Segunda, Osasuna have brought in the 22-year-old and let Kike Garcia go to Alaves, who were originally targeting the Betis man.
In Garcia de Haro they get an alternative to Ante Budimir with more room for growth, and probably an upside in terms of value long-term as well.
Osasuna are back in business and while they probably aren’t thrilled with UEFA or the €100k fine they will pick up, everything is rosy again in Pamplona. Having delayed their plans until they found out the result of the court ruling which allowed them back into the Europa Conference League, they will be behind schedule on where they might have thought they would be. Granted, their task is to improve the side, rather than fill major holes.
Key Need: On the whole Arnaiz is a solid signing that shouldn’t be disregarded, but he shouldn’t be regarded as the sole replacement for Abde. The Moroccan wasn’t always a starter, and he wasn’t always on it, but when he was Osasuna played at a higher level. His ability to feint and shimmy his way past defenders gave Los Rojillo a different dimension last season.
Granted these players are generally hard to find and somewhat expensive if you do come across one, but if Braulio should dedicate their remaining resources somewhere, then it should be towards finding an Abde replacement – someone who can take on their man and unbalance a defence. Given the good job Arrasate did with him, they might be able to use that credit for another loan from a big club.
Beneath the Surface: Braulio has been in charge for over five years now, and so has Arrasate, so it isn’t surprising that their squad is balanced, and their business focuses on replacing lost assets or branching out into different options. Mojica’s arrival has solved the left-back position, so we’re onto less obvious needs.
Kike Garcia and Ante Budimir are the forwards, with Chimy Avila a capable option too. Ruben Garcia, Arnaiz, Kike Barja, and Avila as a likely starter. We’re one short, by our count, given they are now fighting on four fronts this season (Spanish Supercup, Conference League, La Liga and Copa del Rey). An extra forward, preferably who can play wide, or a winger that would allow Avila to play up front more often (Arrasate does seem to prefer the Argentine with someone if he is through the middle) would leave them much less vulnerable to an injury.
