Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde has paid tribute to defender Mikel Balenziaga.

Balenziaga has announced he will leave Athletic at the end of the season.

"He's a very special person for all of us here," said Valverde.

"I've coached players with more talent than Balenziaga from a technical point of view, but players with his drive, his level of concentration, mental strength and empathy with the rest of his team-mates... always seeing the positive side of things, I haven't coached many like that.

"It's not easy to find. Mikel has always had that mentality, whether he played or not."