Jesús Areso

Key strength: Adaptability

Versatile player

Athletic Bilbao are stirring. Sixteenth in La Liga yet riding the momentum of three wins in their last five, Ernesto Valverde's Basque side is clawing its way clear of the relegation mire. But for Jesús Areso, the revival is unfolding from a distance. The 26-year-old Spanish right-back—valued at €10 million—has managed just 270 minutes across three appearances this season, his stat line barren of goals and assists. It is a cruel irony: as Bilbao's attack, spearheaded by the electric Nico Williams (83), finds its spark, Areso offers precisely the overlapping width and defensive recovery that modern full-backs require, yet remains frozen out. His FIFA profile reveals a balanced technician—65 defending, capable pace, comfortable in transition—but football rewards minutes, not potential. At 26, these should be prime years. With competition intensifying as Bilbao climb, Areso faces a crossroads: fight for his place or risk becoming a footnote in a season that promised more. The €10m valuation signals belief in his quality; now he must prove it.