The narrative is set on here that the debate about Eddie is only based on a big Saudi money offer turning his head.
We know that Ortega wants more minutes and has extended his contract, which means that Maresco and Pep wanted to keep him and surely that they have offered him an interesting plan about game time.
That must not mean he was told to be the new #1, but certainly more game time - and that leaves less for Eddie. That's some kind of downgrade for Eddie and surely a reason to look somewhere else...
That is how it seems to me.
I also don't buy the other prominent narrative that our game is vastly being dependent on Eddie.
His long distributions are unmatched but besides that Ortega's distribution is good enough for what we need - and on top he is a better shot stopper, penalty killer and has a more controlled timing out of the box instead of Eddie's kamikaze style clearances.
I fully understand Eddie is loved for all the silverware he won with us but his influence is exaggerated.
If Eddie stays as #1 Ortega would feel betrayed
while Eddie surely can't stay as #2.
I think the decision has been made by Maresca and Pep/Txiki, not by Eddie. Looks like a farewell. IMHO.