Bernat eyes comeback at Eibar: 'I want to feel like a footballer again'
Former PSG and Bayern Munich defender Juan Bernat joins Segunda División side Eibar as a free agent, targeting return to action within two weeks after pubic injury.
The surprise signing of Juan Bernat by Eibar last week has been made official, with the experienced left-back expressing his eagerness to resurrect his career after a difficult spell on the sidelines.
Bernat, who witnessed Eibar’s last-gasp victory against Racing Santander yesterday, was unveiled at Ipurua alongside sporting director César Palacios, revealing his primary motivation for joining the Segunda División outfit.
From European giant to Segunda hopeful
It’s not every day you see a player with Champions League pedigree dropping down to Spain’s second tier, but Bernat’s career has hit a few speed bumps recently. The former PSG and Bayern Munich defender has been without competitive action for some time, having undergone a second operation for a pubic injury after his stint at Getafe last season.
“I wanted to feel like a footballer again and Eibar has given me that opportunity,” the Cullera-born defender explained during his first press conference as an armero.
Road to recovery
Despite being currently unattached, Bernat hasn’t been sitting on his jacksy these past months:
- Has maintained a personal training regime throughout his recovery
- Admits club training differs significantly from solo work
- Targets availability within approximately two weeks
- Will gradually integrate with team training sessions
“I’ll need a couple of weeks to be ready. We’ll have to see how I progress with training, but what I want is to be available as soon as possible to help the team until the end of the season,” Bernat stated.
Swift negotiations
The deal came together rather quickly once contact was established. Bernat confirmed that “it didn’t take long to reach an agreement once talks began. Everything was done in a few days.”
Palacios highlighted the calibre of player they’ve secured: “Few players who have worn this club’s shirt have his trophy cabinet.”
The sporting director explained how they managed to land such a high-profile free agent: “Sometimes you ask thinking it’s impossible and suddenly they tell you it might be possible. From that moment everything happened very quickly because of his eagerness and enthusiasm.”
Eibar will be hoping Bernat can recapture the form that once made him one of Europe’s most reliable left-backs as they push for promotion back to La Liga.