Aymeric Laporte, a defender of the Athletic Club, expressed deep emotion when he returned to San Mamés after a period of complex negotiations with Al-Nassr. He stressed the importance of this moment, evoking childhood memories and nostalgia felt when returning to the field. Laporte described the negotiation process as long and difficult, stressing her willingness to return to athletics and the difficulty of overcoming the larger financial offers of other clubs. He also mentioned the influence of the arrival of Iñigo Martínez, which facilitated his departure from Saudi Arabia and enabled his wish to return to Bilbao to be realized.

The Athletic Club suffered a defeat against the Alavés, ending a series of four consecutive victories in Liga. Coach Ernesto Valverde expressed his disappointment at the lack of intensity and efficiency of his team, highlighting problems of precision, rhythm and finalization. He acknowledged the difficulty of reconciling the fight for the title of Liga with the competition in the Champions League, but affirmed that the main objective remains the Liga. Valverde also addressed the situation of Nico Williams, hoping for a quick return of the injured player.

A warm moment marked the meeting between Aymeric Laporte and Colombian singer Sebastián Yatra in San Mamés. Yatra, who was back in his hometown, joked about Laporte’s age, finding that they were the same age. This friendly interaction illustrated the club’s affection for Laporte and its warm welcome from the community. The arrival of Laporte, after a period of uncertainty, is seen as an important reinforcement for the team and a symbol of the club’s determination to continue its sporting project.