‘We do not use levers’ — Osasuna boss aims sly insult at Barcelona over Spanish Super Cup money

Osasuna are not pulling any punches in their attack of LaLiga's bigger clubs over money allocated for the Spanish Super Cup

In a prelude to the Spanish Super Cup semifinal, Osasuna's General Director, Fran Canal, has delivered a strong response to recent reports surrounding financial contributions from Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, and Barcelona. 

The revelation that these clubs chose to give up €200k each for Osasuna, who were initially set to earn only €0.9m guaranteed out of the €40m Spanish Football Federation revenue for hosting the Spanish Supercup in Saudi Arabia, sparked Canal's impassioned reaction.

Osasuna frustrated with ‘beggars’ narrative

Expressing a sense of frustration, Canal emphasised the challenges faced by Osasuna due to their comparatively limited financial resources. He clarified that Osasuna should receive a fair share of the proceeds, given their participation in the competition.

"We are surprised and disappointed because we do not understand why, in the last few hours, news has come out related to the money that Osasuna will receive for participating in the 2024 Super Cup," Canal told SER Navarra. "We are aware that we do not have the cachet of the other three participants because we are a team that has to live with the limitations that our own structure gives us."

Just compensation, not charity for Osasuna

Canal continued to stress that Osasuna did not obtain the increased funding by begging or leveraging influence. Instead, they sought what they deemed fair compensation for their participation in the tournament, comparable to what other clubs like Valencia and Betis received.

"It cannot be said that we have gotten money by asking. We have obtained what we consider to be fair. We have to receive what Valencia and Betis did," stated Canal. Osasuna aimed for €1.95m fixed, with an additional €250k if they reached the final and €500k if they won the tournament.

Asserting equality and institutional silence

Emphasising Osasuna's belief in equal participation and fair compensation, Canal argued that the money belongs to all four participating teams. He expressed frustration at the notion that Osasuna was receiving charity, highlighting the club's decision to maintain institutional silence despite their weariness of such perceptions.

"We do not beg, we do not have social capital, or use levers. We respect everyone; we believe that the competition is great. We are small but big in terms of spirit, and we are the team that has brought the most here," affirmed Canal.

The inherent imbalance

The response from Osasuna's General Director sheds light on the inherent imbalance within the Spanish football pyramid, where smaller clubs face challenges to compete on equal financial footing with their larger counterparts.

Canal's statements serve as a firm assertion of Osasuna's right to fair compensation and a reminder that, despite their size, they bring a significant spirit to the competition. As the Spanish Super Cup unfolds, the financial dynamics and the undercurrents of the competition's structure come under scrutiny, with Osasuna determined not to be perceived as a beneficiary of charity but as a deserving participant.

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