Last month we brought you an update on the future of Watford youngster Pervis Estupiñán and his impending move to Osasuna.
The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Mallorca, making 25 appearances in all competitions and helping them secure promotion back to La Liga.
Cadena Ser reported he’d caught the attention of Osasuna and they were waiting for him to finish up playing for Mallorca, who were in the playoffs at the time, before finalising the deal.
Little has happened since then, and that appears to have caused something of a stir.
In fact, there’s a small media war brewing in Navarra.
First, Diario de Navarra reported on the fact Osasuna still hadn’t closed the deal. They went as far as saying this had led to rumours claiming Estupiñán was actually looking into the idea of staying with Mallorca, who would make ‘an economic effort’ to sign him.
Noticias de Navarra hit back by rubbishing those claims, stating that ‘nothing is going to stop’ Estupiñán heading to Osasuna ‘no matter how much they have been selling the opposite from Mallorca’.
They report the youngster has already signed his contract and it’s Watford who are holding the whole thing up. The Hornets have reportedly asked for time to close other deals that they’ve got going on at this moment in time.
The newspaper also doubles down on the fact Osasuna didn’t announce the deal out of respect, given Mallorca were playing in the playoffs.
They also suggest the ‘false rumours’ about the player reconsidering the move have been spread ‘to affect the image of the player’ and ‘generate thoughts against the footballer’.
The implication is that Mallorca are spreading false rumours to turn Osasuna against Estupiñán so they can sign him themselves.
Bold claims indeed and it just goes to show that even the lesser lights of the football world can get caught up in the madness of the transfer window.
