Valverde gives Lekue 59th-minute farewell cameo and guard of honour at Bernabéu | OneFootball

Iñigo Lekue’s final professional match for Athletic came as a 59th-minute cameo at the Santiago Bernabéu, rather than a start, and his team-mates formed a guard of honour at full time. El Correo notes that Athletic had nothing riding on the game, which made the decision a surprise.

Ernesto Valverde brought on the Athletic captain for Ruiz de Galarreta and used him at left back.

The move followed events a week earlier at San Mamés, where in the final match in Bilbao against Celta, Valverde did not give Lekue any minutes.

Lekue, 33, ends an 11-season spell in Athletic’s first team.

After the draw with Celta, Valverde said he felt some regret because other emblematic players had received public recognition during his time in charge, but given the state of that match he believed pushing for a second goal had to take priority.

Source: El Correo