At 28 years old, he has gone from less to more in the four seasons in Vallecas, becoming life insurance for Rayo
Together with David García and Aridane, if both continue to wear the Osasuna shirt, Jagoba will have a high-level defense at his disposal
Only the official statement was missing. It has been known for months that Alejandro Catena It would be a rojillo and now the club has made it public at the beginning of June. The former Rayo Vallecano player arrives in Osasuna to reinforce a defense –David and Aridane– who has performed remarkably throughout the season. But the numbers from Madrid do not lie and everything indicates that the internal ‘fight’ to gain a place in the starting eleven will be expensive.
Although perhaps we are getting ahead of ourselves, we will have to see what happens in the coming weeks: Aridane ends his contract and although Osasuna has offered him a renewal, at the moment the decision he will make is unknown. And the club is also watching what will happen with the future of David, who has a contract but is very loved in the Premier League and managers know it.
If the two end up staying in Pamplona, Jagoba Arrasate He is presented with a scenario as complicated as it is relieving, since he will have at his disposal three power stations -not forgetting unai garciathe fourth – that have shown to perform very well in the highest category of professional football.
What would Catena offer to the Osasuna defense?
Alejandro Catena has signed some numbers that have made him one of the reference center-backs in the recently ended season. He combines aerial play, forcefulness without the ball, physical power, he can play in both profiles and has a great movement of the ball.
Their numbers in 2022/2023 after 35 league games are as follows:
- He has been the fourth defender in the competition with the most duels won by high: 80.
- It has been the second with the most clearances: 159.
- He has been the central defender with the most deep passes he has given: 177.
- He was the eighth defender with the most recoveries: 214.
Waiting for what UEFA decides after opening a file on Osasuna and being investigated for match fixing, Osasuna will play four competitions next season (League, Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España and Conference if they pass the tie in August). In this context, having three guarantee centers means peace of mind to face a few months with a heavy load of both matches and travel.
The arrival of Catena, which was already closed regardless of the European classification, is one more leap in quality in a squad that has proven to know how to coexist very well in the face of internal competition in recent years after the great work from the sports management and Tajonar.