Ibai: “It is a pride and a pleasure to be able to return home”

The president of the Athletic Club, Aitor Elizegi, accompanied by the sports director, Rafa Alkorta, has presented this morning Ibai Gomez as a new zurigorri player for the next three and a half seasons. The presentation took place in the press room José Iragorri in San Mames and, after the presentation, the footballer jumped onto the pitch dressed in his new red and white jersey for the photo session.

For the winger from Santutxu “it is a pride and a pleasure to be able to return home”. With regard to the decision taken, and after showing his gratitute to the president and the sports director, Ibai recalled that “he has never hidden his feeling for Athletic”, alluding to personal factors which go beyond the sporting and economic reasons “when we decide with the heart”. Ibai has been optimistic about the zurigorri future, “we are going to turn the situation aroung as soon as possible” and has remarked that he has come “to contribute to the team”. “I have evolved… Both mentally and physically and I am going to show that I’m a different player now”.

For his part, Aitor Elizegi has emphasized that “Ibai has always have the goal or returning and that is vlauable and reinforces out entire message”. He has valued very positively the decision of coming back of the footballer, “i believe that is is a sample of commitment” and has recognized “that it is important to begin this way 2019, it means that we are adding, not only improving the team but reinforcing the ideology of what we all think that is to leave and return to the Athletic Club”.

Finally, Rafa Alkorta stressed that “botk parties have made a major effort to get to this point” and is conviced that “Ibai is going to give a lot to the team. “A player who is oging to be able to contribute in many ways, not only in the sports”.