New Athletic Bilbao coach Valverde calls up top kids for preseason | OneFootball

New Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde has included three youngsters in his preseason squad.

Valverde is bringing in midfielder Beñat Gerenabarrena and forwards Malcom Adu Ares and Luis Bilbao, three footballers who were with Bilbao Athletic and CD Basconia last season.

All three played leading roles as Bilbao Athletic staved off relegation thanks to a great run under former coach Patxi Salinas in the second half of the campaign.

In addition to them, central defender Aitor Paredes, who trained under Marcelino last summer, and three goalkeepers, Ander Iru, Alex Padilla and Ibon Ispizua, who spent last season on loan at Gernika, will also take part in the beginning of the training camp. The absence of Unai Simón and Julen Agirrezabala due to their commitments with the national teams has made this necessary.

Also new to pre-season is left-back Imanol García de Albéniz, who spent last season on loan at CD Mirandés, with whom he made no less than 34 appearances in LaLiga Smartbank.