Didn’t They Ask for Respect? Athletic Bilbao Accused of Hypocrisy Over Osasuna Signing

Athletic Club finds itself once again at the center of controversy—this time for the very tactic it has long criticized in others. After consistently preaching values and ethics in football dealings, particularly in response to Barcelona’s interest in Nico Williams, the club has now triggered Jesús Areso’s release clause to sign him from Osasuna.

A Double Standard Exposed

In recent months, Athletic has been vocal in its condemnation of Barcelona’s interest in Nico Williams. Officials and media in Bilbao accused the Catalan club of showing a “lack of respect,” destabilizing the player, and acting without values—simply for exploring a move that involved a legally available release clause.

Now, Athletic has done exactly the same thing.

Jesús Areso, an Osasuna right-back, has agreed terms with Athletic. The club plans to pay his release clause—just as Barça considered doing for Williams. All the high-minded talk of footballing ethics and integrity has suddenly gone quiet.

A Familiar Pattern in Bilbao

What’s more concerning is that this is not a one-off case. Athletic has a long history of signing players from neighboring clubs by activating release clauses. From Íñigo Martínez’s move from Real Sociedad, to the earlier signings of Alkiza, Loren, Javi Martínez, and even Echevarría, this strategy has been a consistent feature of their transfer policy.

Yet each time another club, especially Barcelona, operates in a similar manner, outrage follows in Bilbao.

“Clauses are theft when others use them—but just business when Athletic does.”

Osasuna, understandably, feels betrayed. They’ve lost a key player through a legal mechanism often condemned by the very club using it.

The Nico Williams Hypocrisy

When news broke that Barcelona was considering paying Nico Williams’s clause, the backlash in the Basque Country was swift and loud. Headlines decried the Blaugrana’s “disrespect.” Critics labeled the interest unethical and destabilizing.

And yet, behind the scenes, Athletic was applying similar pressure on Areso.

Where is the same energy now? The public outcry? The defense of values?

A Matter of Transparency

The key difference is not in the method, but in the transparency. Barcelona has always acted within the legal framework, without hiding its intentions. If it wants a player, it either negotiates or pays the clause.

Athletic, on the other hand, continues to push a public narrative of integrity while executing moves behind the scenes that directly contradict that image.

The problem is not the use of clauses—it’s the hypocrisy in criticizing others for doing what you yourself routinely do.

Football Remembers

For Osasuna, this is more than just a lost player—it’s a moment of disillusionment. And for fans and observers of Spanish football, it’s another case of a club demanding respect while failing to offer it in return.

Athletic Club’s transfer of Jesús Areso may be within the rules. But it’s a reminder that values mean little when they’re only applied selectively.