Karrikaburu Faces Uncertain Future Amidst Limited Playing Time

omidbasir- Last week, Aritz Elustondo’s minutes during the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals left Jon Karrikaburu as the only player in the Real Sociedad squad yet to participate under coach Pellegrino Matarazzo. This has resulted in Karrikaburu, hailing from Elizondo, experiencing two months without playing time, with little indication that this might change soon.

Karrikaburu had previously seen action in six La Liga matches under Sergio and faced a muscular issue just as it seemed he might receive more opportunities due to Óskarsson’s injury. He later featured, albeit from the bench, for Jon Ansotegi in the Copa del Rey match in Elda, which marked his last appearance on the field two months ago.

Initially, there were indications that the player wearing number 19 for Sociedad might be loaned out in the January transfer window. However, no agreement was reached for either a loan or a potential transfer, resulting in him remaining at Zubieta under Matarazzo’s guidance. To date, he remains the only player without minutes in 2026, occasionally missing out on matchday selections.

Karrikaburu trains daily at Zubieta, acutely aware that his short-term prospects appear bleak. The impressive performances of Mikel Oyarzabal, the goals being scored by Óskarsson, and the potential role of Guedes as a striker further complicate his chances of getting on the pitch. Nevertheless, his coach’s recent encouraging words may provide motivation for him to secure some playing time before the season concludes.

With just over a year left on his contract, Karrikaburu’s future will again be a topic of discussion this summer. The challenges of leaving during the final year of a signed contract are significant, particularly given that interest from Athletic de Bilbao could lead to him joining them as a free agent in 2027, as they have done with other players in the past.