Jose Luis Mendilibar has hit out at Osasuna’s lack of forward-planning for the number of players he lost this summer.
The Coach lost several of his first-team stars this summer, who otherwise wanted to stay at Pamplona, but could not for the lack of finances at the club.
In February of this year, then-President Patxi Izco agreed a 75-year repayment structure for Osasuna’s €27.9m debt.
Mendilibar says that the club were unable to renew Joseba Llorente’s loan and had to sell Ibrahima Balde when an offer came in, despite both players being keen to stay on.
Osasuna have so far only signed players on free transfers or loan deals this summer and it is much to Mendilibar’s frustration ahead of the start of the 2012-13 campaign.
“Things are complicated,” admitted the Coach to La Voz de Galicia ahead of his team’s match on Monday night at Deportivo.
“We are currently in a very difficult situation, a little because of the waste of the directors at the club and a little because of the carelessness with the tax and social security.
“If a guy owes me money that I do not have to pay this year, and we’ll agree to it, it becomes convenient for the individual and the debt grows.
“Then come the lean years, for both the tax office and the club and it ends up like this. This is why we are where we are. This neglect of the finances has weakened the League’s clubs and players are now leaving to others that are healthier.
“We have lived beyond our means and now we cannot meet our needs.”
