Published On 4/23/2026
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Last update: 18:09 (Mecca time)
A report by The Athletic newspaper stated that Osasuna player Victor Muñoz (22 years old) is closely followed by Spanish football giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Muñoz, who plays the winger position, played 34 matches with Osasuna in his first full season at the highest level, during which he scored 6 goals and made 5 others, after he joined the Pamplona City Club for 5 million euros (about 5.6 million dollars), with an additional million in incentives, coming from Real Madrid last summer.
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Classic suite with a modern touch
The Athletic report stated that Muñoz found what he wanted with Osasuna’s direct and fast style, as he cooperated remarkably with full-back Javi Galan, while creating short duels with playmaker Aimar Oroz.
He also benefits from the movements of striker Ante Budimir, one of the league’s top scorers, who opens spaces for him or creates a target for crosses.
The report indicated that Muñoz succeeded in compensating for the departure of Moroccan winger Abdel Samad Zalzouli, who later shone with Real Betis.
Muñoz also embodies the image of a traditional winger, as he possesses speed, skill and vitality. He also does not hesitate to confront the full-back directly and run towards the touchline. He is good at exploiting spaces on the flanks and is an effective weapon in counter-attacks against teams in possession.
His numbers indicate his great superiority in dribbles, as he is among the top 2% of the players of the sides in the five major European leagues in terms of successful dribbles, and a third of his starts with the ball are considered progressive, which reflects his offensive audacity.
Impact goes beyond the center of the wing
His role is not limited to the sides, as he is characterized by his constant enthusiasm, as he retreats to receive the ball and build attacks, with a high ability to change direction and get rid of pressure thanks to his low center of gravity and the speed of his feet.
The Athletic report explained that his influence is compared in terms of offensive initiative to big stars such as Lamine Gamal, which reflects his constant desire to make a difference. This boldness could translate into decisive moments, such as his late goal against Rayo Vallecano.
He also has the ability to penetrate clustered defenses thanks to his speed and shooting ability, in addition to the variety of scoring methods, whether with long shots or even headers, despite his short stature (173 cm).
Madrid and Barcelona conflict
Muñoz grew up in the Barcelona academy before joining Real Madrid in 2021, before he later left for Osasuna, which adds a special dimension to the struggle over him.
The Spanish newspaper “Sport” reported that FC Barcelona is very interested in strengthening the left wing position, as sporting director Deco and his team have begun studying alternatives, including Abdel Samad Zalzouli, the Real Betis player, and Andreas Schilderup, the Benfica player, in addition to Victor Muñoz, who is admired by the technical management led by Hansi Flick.
What reinforces this proposition is that Muñoz, who previously trained at the La Masia Academy, changed his agent to Niagara Sports, which also represents Barcelona players such as Dani Olmo and Juan Garcia, which was interpreted as a sign of rapprochement with the Catalan club.
Muñoz, who maintains good relations with Barcelona players such as Alejandro Balde, Fermin Lopez and Lamine Yamal, believes that moving to Barcelona may be an appropriate step for his career, an opinion shared by those around him, especially in light of the expected playing opportunities at Camp Nou.
Madrid obstacle
But the reports added that Real Madrid will be the difficult obstacle to his transfer, as the royal team does not want to repeat previous scenarios, such as the transfer of Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o, who later shined in a Barcelona shirt.
Muñoz moved to Osasuna last summer for 5 million euros, with an additional million as variables, but Real Madrid kept several important items:
- The right to buy back within 3 years for 8, 9 and 10 million euros.
- Get 50% of the value of any future sale.
- Obliging Osasuna to inform him of any official offer to the player.
Here lies the biggest obstacle facing Barcelona. If the Catalan club makes an official move, Osasuna will be obligated to inform Real Madrid, who can simply activate the buyback clause and then redirect the player to another club, but not to Barcelona.
The Spanish national team’s confrontation with its Serbian counterpart on the international agenda during March was a major turning point in his career, after Victor Muñoz greatly caught the attention by scoring a wonderful goal in his first official appearance in the first national team shirt, contributing to a wide victory with three clean goals. Which enhances his chances of being included in coach Luis de la Fuente’s roster in the 2026 World Cup.
