Athletic`s Oscar de Marcos pens new deal

Madrid: Athletic Club Bilbao confirmed they have reached agreement with midfielder Oscar de Marcos to extend his contract until the end of June 2016.

The 22-year-old De Marcos joined Athletic for a mere 300,000 euros from Deportivo Alaves in the summer of 2009 and has played a total of 47 league matches for the side and 67 in all competitions, Xinhua reported. However, it is only this year that he has become a first team regular, winning over the fans and coach Marcelo Bielsa with a series of high-energy performances that have highlighted his adaptability. De Marcos has played at left and right full back, as well as on both wings, central midfield and also as a second striker, offering the coach various options in his starting 11. This has also been his best season in front of goal, with the Spaniard scoring four times so far. With the player`s current deal due to expire at the end of June, Athletic have moved to ensure De Marcos remain at the club and have also raised his buyout clause to 32 million euros. He becomes the third Athletic player to extend their contract in recent weeks, following Inigo Perez and Ander Iturraspe in penning new deals with the Basque club. IANS