Osasuna eager to keep Iranians

PFDC – PAMPLONA, La Liga outfits CA Osasuna offered contract extensions to their Iranian players Javad Nekounam and Masoud Shojaei, local sports web portal ‘Navarrasport’ reports.

The duo helped the club to the ninth place in Spanish Primera Division this season, however, the contracts of both players end this month.

Nekounam (30) joined Osasuna in 2006 and soon emerged to an absolute keyplayer. The defensive midfielder played 118 matches and scored 19 goals for the club since then. His compatriot Shojaei (26) was signed two years later and since then managed to become a regular under three different coaches, appearing in 87 games and scoring 7 goals.

However, if the players agree to the extensions, is uncertain at this point. Reportedly both players would have to accept pay cuts in comparison to their current contracts and have only been given a week time to respond.

Both players already were close to leaving the club in winter, when they received offers from different European and Asian clubs.