Athletic Club's final La Liga fixture away to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday carries more than just the weight of a season’s closing chapter. With head coach Ernesto Valverde set to hand over the reins to Edin Terzic next season, the match serves as a farewell of sorts, but also a stage for two players with transformative personal narratives: Beñat Prados and Gift. Their inclusion in the squad signals both the end of a long recovery and the potential start of a new career at the top level.
For Prados, the journey back has been arduous. The 25-year-old midfielder ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a training session in September 2025. Surgery on September 23 was followed by a grueling rehabilitation that has seen more downs than ups. He has managed just two appearances this season, both before the injury, and for months he has been a forgotten figure as Athletic’s midfield rotated without him. Now, however, he returns to full fitness at the most opportune moment – the final matchday – offering a glimmer of what could have been and a promise for the future.
“It has been the toughest period of my career,” one could imagine Prados reflecting, given the emotional toll such injuries exact. While no direct quotes were provided, the subtext is clear: a player who had been establishing himself as a reliable presence in the engine room now faces the challenge of rediscovering his sharpness in the cauldron of the Bernabéu. The medical staff’s caution has likely dictated his gradual reintegration, but Valverde’s decision to name him in the squad hints at confidence in his recovery. For a team that has often relied on intensity and physicality, Prados’ box-to-box energy could be a welcome asset if he can stay injury-free.
Gift’s story is one of precocious talent and international flair. Born in Navarre but raised in the prestigious Liverpool academy, the forward moved to Bilbao in his late teens after Athletic activated his transfer for a fee just shy of €1 million. Now 19, set to turn 20 this June, he has already tasted matchday involvement with several bench appearances this season. Yet the debut has eluded him – until perhaps now. Valverde’s selection of Gift for the Bernabéu trip, in the absence of Álex Berenguer, is a clear invitation to seize the moment.
The opening for Gift emerged when Berenguer reported discomfort in his right adductor muscle. A precautionary scan confirmed an overload, ruling him out of the final match. For a young winger with the pace and directness that Athletic’s attack sometimes lacks, this could be the breakthrough. “He’s been training well and deserves his chance,” is the unspoken sentiment from the coaching staff, as they look to inject fearless youth into a dead-rubber encounter. With Terzic’s arrival imminent, Gift has one golden opportunity to advertise his credentials under the lights of one of world football’s most iconic stadiums.
Tactically, the inclusion of both players reshapes the bench dynamics. Prados offers a different profile in midfield – capable of pressing high and driving forward – which could allow Valverde to rest key starters or experiment with formations. Gift, meanwhile, brings a wildcard factor. His time in Liverpool’s system has endowed him with a cultured, technical base, but his adaptation to the demands of La Liga remains untested. A cameo against Real Madrid’s high line would be a baptism of fire, but also the ultimate test of his readiness for regular first-team football.
The significance of the Bernabéu as a stage cannot be overstated. For a debutant like Gift, it is the stuff of dreams. For a returning player like Prados, it is a symbol of resilience. The 80,000-seat arena has witnessed countless epics, and while this match may lack title implications for Athletic, the personal stakes are enormous. Moreover, with Real Madrid likely to field a strong side as they prepare for European adventures, the intensity will not be diminished, providing a true measure of these players’ mettle.
Beyond the individual stories, the squad list hints at a transitional period for Athletic. Valverde’s tenure, marked by steady progress and a Copa del Rey triumph, is drawing to a close. Terzic, known for his attacking philosophy from his Borussia Dortmund days, will inherit a squad that blends experienced campaigners with emerging talents. The performances of Prados and Gift, even if brief, could influence his early impressions. If Gift can showcase his speed and flair, or Prados his tenacity, they might force their way into the new coach’s plans.
In the broader context of Athletic’s season, the final league fixture serves as a bridge. The club has secured a comfortable mid-table finish, free from relegation worries but also far from European qualification. The real value now lies in building momentum for the next campaign. For the supporters, seeing a homegrown talent like Prados – who joined Athletic’s youth ranks before rising through the system – return from a dark period offers a heartwarming narrative. Gift, though not a product of Lezama, embodies the club’s scouting philosophy: identifying undervalued talent with Basque roots.
Prados’ rehabilitation journey has been a microcosm of the mental fortitude required in modern football. ACL recoveries are notoriously unpredictable, often taking players a full year to regain peak form. That he has made it back within eight months speaks to his dedication and the club’s medical infrastructure. However, the true test will be his ability to string together consecutive matches without recurrence. Sunday’s potential minutes, even a late substitute appearance, would be the first step in a long road back to consistency.
For Gift, the clock is ticking louder. At 20, the window for a breakthrough narrows, and with Terzic likely to evaluate the squad with a fresh perspective, a late-season debut could cement his place in the first-team picture. The striker position has been a perennial headache for Athletic, often reliant on stalwarts like Iñaki Williams. A dynamic option like Gift – who can also operate wide – gives the new coach a versatile piece to consider. The €1 million fee now looks a shrewd investment, but only if he can translate youth promise into senior productivity.
As the team bus rolls into the Spanish capital, the dual narrative of rehabilitation and aspiration offers a compelling subplot to what might otherwise be a routine end-of-season affair. Prados and Gift represent two ends of the football spectrum: one reclaiming lost time, the other chasing a dream. Their presence in the squad list is a reminder that even in a match without tangible league prizes, football’s capacity for human drama endures. Based on reporting from Marca.