Martin Zubimendi made a big decision to turn down a summer transfer to Liverpool, but Real Sociedad has explained why they have not extended an offer to him for a new deal.
The 24-year-old midfielder, who won Euro 2024 with Spain, was seen as a perfect addition to Liverpool’s midfield. The Reds activated his £50.5m release clause and proposed tripling his salary, but Zubimendi preferred staying true to his local side, Real Sociedad.
According to Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay, Zubimendi’s decision to stay was entirely his own and was not contingent upon a new contract. Aperribay clarified,
“There has not been now and there has not been before. He did not put any conditions on us. He understood the moment and knew that it was a market in which some players were already going to leave, and he understood that it was time to stay at Real Sociedad. He has not put a renewal as a condition nor have we talked about it. The conversation with Martín was short and quick.”
Martin Zubimendi’s reasons for staying at Real Sociedad
Martin Zubimendi himself expressed his contentment with staying at Real Sociedad in an interview, emphasizing his deep connection with the club. He conveyed that his choice to stay was driven by his strong loyalty to the club and his desire to continue contributing to its success, despite the tempting offer from Liverpool.
He stated,
“Real Sociedad for me is my life, I think I have spent half my life there. A lot of what I am is part of La Real.”
Despite recent departures, including Mikel Merino to Arsenal and Robin Le Normand to Atletico Madrid, Martin Zubimendi remains optimistic about the club’s future. He believes that once the team adapts to new players, they will meet the high expectations set by their European presence.
Aperribay assured that Real Sociedad plans to build around Zubimendi and invest in the club’s future. He noted,
“We have decided to invest in the future … if we had looked to the present we would have made transfers of a different profile.
“There are many clubs that when you invest in the short term your next step if it doesn’t work out is difficult. Talent, training, believing, growing and progressing. These last two are not the same. I hope they make us progress. I want to win everything, La Liga too.”
Liverpool, who had hoped to finalize the deal with Zubimendi, may return to the discussion in January if the situation permits.
Until then, the Reds are concerned with proper negotiations to secure new contracts for Mo Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Virgil van Dijk. Former Liverpool keeper Adrian has suggested that Salah ultimately remains loyal to the Reds, despite location and financial speculation.
Although Zubimendi’s potential move to Liverpool has failed, his profile remains ideal for the club’s needs.
The player’s capacity to control the game, provide defensive cover, and deliver passes within a specified range is perfectly aligned with Liverpool’s midfield requirements. Last season, Zubimendi’s impressive statistics in passing accuracy and defensive metrics underscored his suitability for the role Liverpool was looking to fill.
Also Read:
- Why was Federico Chiesa not in Liverpool squad vs. Forest? Will he start against Milan?
- ‘How they were going to respond with the goodbye of Jurgen’ – What potential Ballon d’Or 2024 winner said on Liverpool?
- What Arne Slot said for Liverpool squad when answering if there is room for improvement?
- Arne Slot explains why Trent Alexander-Arnold hasn’t played a full 90 minutes for Liverpool
- Fabrizio Romano’s latest update brings positive news for Liverpool fans