Martin Zubimendi's Liverpool 'regret' claim speaks volumes before Arsenal U-turn

Daily Mirror

3 days ago

Martin Zubimendi is closing in on a move to Arsenal, having already rejected Liverpool in the past, and that decision may shed some light on how the player will approach certain fixtures next season
Spain sensation Martin Zubimendi looks set to join the Premier League ranks next season, with Arsenal in advanced talks to secure his signature. And it was the Real Sociedad star's actions in rejecting Liverpool last summer that perhaps revealed a lot about his motivations coming to England.
A move to the Emirates is believed to be on the verge of completion, though there may yet be a spanner in the works. That's following word that new Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso wants to sign the player from under the nose of old friend Mikel Arteta instead.
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Zubimendi, 25, showcased his value after scoring in Sunday's UEFA Nations League final against Portugal. And although Spain eventually lost the decider on penalties, he underscored his qualities after playing the full 120 minutes for Luis de la Fuente's side.
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The coveted Spaniard has been on the radar of several top English clubs for the last year-and-a-half, but it seems the Gunners are close to winning the chase. Despite Liverpool's previous attempt to entice Zubimendi to Anfield almost 12 months ago, it appears that Arsenal's persistence could soon pay off.
Reflecting on his decision to snub Liverpool and stay with Sociedad, Zubimendi told reporters back in October 2024: "My philosophy is to do what I feel at all times. So far, things have gone well for me. It is true that there was a lot of noise. I went through uncomfortable moments.
"The best thing for me was to stay here [at Real Sociedad] and I am happy and at peace. There is a lot of noise because of the press but in the end everything is easier than all that.
"Of course, I don't regret it, I can't think that after four or five games at the start of the season. I made my decision from within, I thought it was the best thing to do, the results don't affect me. I see potential in this team, you just have to watch us train and I'm excited about having a good season."
One can perhaps understand why some players may have been cautious about joining Liverpool in such a period of transition. At the time of their Zubimendi interest, the Reds had just bade farewell to Jurgen Klopp and faced an uncertain future.
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Then again, it could be that Zubimendi simply isn't fond enough of the Merseysiders to ditch his boyhood club. Or perhaps he was simply holding out for an offer that interested him more, and Arsenal appear to meet the standard in that regard.
Despite Liverpool's interest in nabbing Zubimendi, his choice to stay didn't stop Arne Slot from winning a Premier League title in his debut campaign. Liverpool even came close to winning a treble of trophies before agonising losses in both the Champions League and Carabao Cup finals.
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Arsenal, by comparison, finished a distant second in the Premier League and only made it to the third round of the FA Cup. It looked as though Arteta's title drought might end in the Champions League, though both that and the Carabao Cup campaign came to an end in the semi-finals.
Not that it appears to have deterred Zubimendi as a switch to north London moves within reach. And there may be one future rival he's particularly motivated to meet in the event he does move to England this summer.