Yuri Berchiche’s evergreen form leaves Athletic keen on a one-year renewal | OneFootball

A season that began with Athletic’s first Champions League in 11 years has soured, the gap to trouble now six points. Amid it, Yuri Berchiche’s form has stood out and his future is under review.

According to El Correo, the 36-year-old has played 27 of 31 league games and is fourth-most used on 2,769 minutes, behind Unai Simón, Mikel Jauregizar and Dani Vivián.

He featured in four of the eight Champions League league-phase matches and three Copa del Rey ties, including the semi-final second leg at Anoeta. He has also covered at centre-back, partnering Vivián against PSG and stepping in versus Cultural Leonesa after Paredes was sent off.

Berchiche is joint-top for assists with Iñaki Williams on four, the latest creating Guruzeta’s goal against Villarreal at San Mamés, though it brought no points. He is third for ball recoveries, behind Galarreta and Jauregizar.

Renewed for one season last June, he is weighing up another year while the club want him to continue for one more, valuing his versatility and leadership. He has said his cycle at Athletic is gradually winding down and that he would walk away once he felt he could no longer contribute.

He heads the contract decisions at Ibaigane alongside Lekue, Yeray and Rego. Signed from PSG in 2018 for 24.7 million, he remains the club’s second-costliest arrival after Iñigo Martínez at 32 million, with a decision nearing.

Source: El Correo