Osasuna’s sporting director, Braulio Vázquez, recently confirmed the club turned down big offers from Sunderland for winger Víctor Muñoz. Reports from Diario de Navarra, via Sport Witness, indicate the English side pushed hard during the January window.
Osasuna held firm on Muñoz despite Sunderland interest
They reportedly offered up to €25m and even included Eliezer Mayenda in a player-swap deal. Osasuna didn’t budge. They made it clear they wouldn’t talk unless Sunderland paid the full €40m release clause in Muñoz’s contract. Vázquez noted that the player is incredibly grateful to the Pamplona club. After all, the team took a chance on him when he was mostly unknown at Real Madrid Castilla.
“We didn’t even listen to them; we stuck to the clause,” he said.
“It’s also true, and I want to emphasise this, that he’s very grateful to the club. We brought him in from the Primera RFEF (Real Madrid First Division), where he’d only played 40 minutes in La Liga, and we paid €5m.
“I told him he was going to experience personal and professional growth because it was the right environment, and he’s very grateful. As of today, we’re not considering him leaving, and neither is he.”
Why did Osasuna say no?
Looking at the situation this February, Osasuna’s choice was about both money and keeping the team steady. Real Madrid still own 50% of the 22-year-old’s economic rights. This means selling him for anything less than the release clause wouldn’t leave Osasuna with much profit.
Muñoz is a regular for Spain’s U21 team and brings a direct style of play that Sunderland desperately want for their Premier League run. Moreover, he also possesses great dribbling skills. These are exactly the traits Sunderland need to give their attack more variety on the wings.
Sunderland sit 11th in the Premier League, but missing out on Muñoz is a real blow. They did bring in Nilson Angulo and Jocelin Ta Bi this winter, but Muñoz has experience in La Liga that fits perfectly with English football. For now, Muñoz seems happy to stay in Spain. He wants stability and is playing well in a place where he knows the club backs him.
What’s next for the Black Cats?
Sunderland still have plenty of transfer money left, but they are still missing that top-level spark in their attack. Now, the recruitment team has a choice: go back with a bigger offer this summer or look elsewhere in Europe.
Since Muñoz is just starting to make a name for himself in the top flight, his price tag might go up if he keeps playing this well. For the rest of the season, the Black Cats must now trust their current squad to hold onto a mid-table spot without the Spaniard’s flair.
