Over the weekend, Club Atlético Osasuna welcomed 15 journalists from 13 media outlets in Croatia, the United Kingdom, Cameroon, and Mexico. This initiative is part of its communication and brand exposure strategy to increase its presence in new markets. The Navarrese club organized the visit, during which the journalists learned about Osasuna's idiosyncrasy, philosophy, and projects from spokespersons.

"We have organized an international press trip on the occasion of this weekend, focused mainly on Croatian media, although we also have representatives from the UK, Mexico and Cameroon. For us, this is an opportunity for them to get to know Osasuna better. Outside Spain, our club is well-known, but it is not among the most prominent in LaLiga, so this type of visit is very valuable. They have shown great interest in all aspects of the club: our player development, philosophy, policy, and the projects underway, especially Futuro Tajonar. All of this helps Osasuna gain visibility beyond Spain," said the club's communications director, Santiago Zuza.

The international striker, Ante Budimir, represented the club by addressing the media a day before facing Real Sociedad in a press conference and after the match in the mixed zone. During his appearance, the current third-top scorer in the league competition talked about different topics with the journalists who gathered in the Michael Robinson Press Room. After the match, the Croatian thanked the club for the management and valued the importance of this type of action for the club to continue growing.

"I want to thank the club because they have done a tremendous job inviting all these journalists who represent Croatia... The club has done a spectacular job, and the Croatians are super happy with the treatment and everything they have seen," said Ante Budimir. "It is essential for Osasuna and us that we go outside of Navarra so that they know us all over the world and see what we are. Today, Croatian [journalists] and those from England and Africa have seen what Osasuna is."

Osasuna 101

The visit began on Saturday in Sala 1920 at El Sadar, where the club's CEO, Fran Canal, welcomed the journalists and talked to them about the reconstruction process Osasuna has undergone in the last 10 years, having the stadium's reform and the Futuro Tajonar project as its central topics. Afterward, the media met with Ángel Alcalde, director of Tajonar, who spoke to them about the Método Tajonar and the youth academy training project.

"[Osasuna] might be a small club, but it can also be an example for many clubs. My two main takeaways are the fantastic open-door training sessions—I think it is fascinating that they allow the kids to get close to the players and get an autograph—and the involvement of the first team players as they head to lead training sessions with the academy on Tuesdays, I find that amusing," commented Paola Herrera, a journalist from the Mexican media outlet Récord.

After the talks, the journalists were at Tajonar to watch the last training session before the match against the Txuri-Urdin team. Later, they attended head coach Vicente Moreno's press conference, where they asked him about the team's current situation and Budimir's extraordinary form, with whom they spoke afterward.

The next day, the club, with the help of the Pamplona City Council, organized a guided tour of the old part of the city in the morning, allowing the journalists to learn more about the capital of Navarre. Some took advantage of the occasion to record and report on Pamplona and the San Fermín festivities. They also had the opportunity to experience the atmosphere around El Sadar.

The spirit of El Sadar

Although the journalists had the opportunity to tour the stadium with the club's communication department, they wouldn't see it come to life until the next day. "When someone comes to this stadium, you notice how special it is—as well as the history of Osasuna. I love the message these players receive by helping them understand when they are on the field, 'not even God surrenders,' and that 'the only way for the players to be forgiven is by leaving everything on the field' (phrases by the late Navarrese journalist David Berián). I will take this message of emptying yourself for the team to Croatia. Every player must remember it as they jump on the field, so it is a global message," said Miho Dobrašin, editor of the Croatian HINA Agency.

The visit concluded with the media attending the press conferences of the coaches of both teams. After scoring a brace, the Croatian press had another opportunity to talk with Budimir, who spoke to them. Defender Enzo Boyomo also spoke on behalf of the club and addressed the Cameroonian media outlet in attendance.