‘Llorente situation unsettling Bilbao’

Former Athletic Bilbao midfielder Fran Yeste believes the situation surrounding Fernando Llorente’s contract renewal is unsettling the club.

Spanish international Llorente has turned down the offer of a new deal at San Mames, resulting in him being used almost exclusively from the bench this term, and it is this that Yeste believes has contributed to the Basques’ poor start to La Liga.

“This season has started strangely, with Javi Martinez leaving and the Llorente situation, which has unsettled the atmosphere at the club,” Yeste told Marca.

“However, Bilbao have a very good boss in Marcelo Bielsa and they must leave him to get on with his work. I am convinced the team will get out of this.”

Yeste, 32, made more than 300 appearances for Athletic and is currently seeking a club, having played in the United Arab Emirates and Greece over the past two seasons.

“If I don’t get an offer I like and find interesting then I may have to forget about playing football,” he admitted.

Tags Fernando Llorente Yeste
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