Latest news with #RealSociedad
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Barcelona initiate talks with veteran La Liga goalkeeper for 2026 move
Barcelona's evolving strategy to reshape their goalkeeping department has taken a fresh twist. According to a new report from SPORT, the Catalan giants are laying the groundwork to sign Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro in 2026, when his release clause will drop significantly from its current €70 million value. Advertisement The interest is so severe that initial talks between the parties have already taken place. While Joan Garcia remains the immediate and preferred long-term heir to Marc-Andre ter Stegen, the club is also thinking beyond the short-term extension of Wojciech Szczesny. The Polish goalkeeper has agreed to stay on for one more season, but with his contract only running until 2026 (at best), Barça are exploring the next layer of succession in goal. A change in plan Barcelona's initial goalkeeping roadmap, put together by sporting director Deco, was designed to be gradual. However, the unexpected need for rapid decisions has disrupted that approach. Advertisement Whether due to Ter Stegen's uncertain future or an accelerating transfer market, the club now finds itself forced to rethink timelines and personnel choices. Alex Remiro is back on Barcelona's radar. (Photo by) Even Hansi Flick has been vocal about the value of listening to seasoned staff and Jose Ramon de la Fuente, the long-time goalkeeping coach's endorsement of Remiro signals that this interest is very serious. Why Remiro? Remiro brings with him plenty of La Liga experience and consistency. Now 30, he is at the ideal age for a goalkeeper and has been a key figure for Real Sociedad over multiple seasons. While his current release clause is prohibitively high, it will be significantly reduced in 2026, a key detail that Barcelona are clearly watching closely. Advertisement The club believes that pairing an experienced, proven goalkeeper like Remiro with a younger option would offer balance and security as they prepare for life after both Ter Stegen and Szczesny. Adding urgency to the matter is external interest. Reports of Premier League side Aston Villa keeping tabs on Remiro have reached Barcelona's offices, prompting Deco to fast-track early conversations. While nothing has been finalised, the fact that contact has gone beyond mere scouting suggests Barça are keen to get ahead of the competition before Remiro's value on the market rises again.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
🎥Aperribay confirms talks with Zubimendi
The president of Real Sociedad confessed that he has been advised to think about his future. It's one of the soap operas without the summer having started, but Zubimendi's future is increasingly far from Real, despite Aperribay's attempts. Advertisement As of today, he acknowledges that there are conversations and that he has been advised to think carefully about the decision he may make. The Premier perhaps? This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. 📸 Angel Martinez - 2025 Getty Images
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Real Sociedad chief urges Martin Zubimendi to SNUB Arsenal - as Spaniard 'gets set for Gunners medical ahead of £51m move'
Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay has played down speculation surrounding Martin Zubimendi's pending move to Arsenal. The Gunners have been heavily linked with a move for Zubimendi, who has a reported release clause of £51million, in recent months, and reports earlier this week claimed the midfielder was set for a medical. All payment structures regarding a deal for the 26-year-old are said to have been agreed and Zubimendi is expected to become Mikel Arteta 's first signing of the summer. However, Sociedad chief Aperribay has now addressed the situation publicly and appeared to cast doubt on Zubimendi's move to the Emirates. 'Zubimendi is the only player we've spoken to,' he told reporters. 'Clubs have asked us, but no player has told us they want to leave.' 'We've told Martin to go to the national team calmly, to think about it, and we'd like him to stay. 'We know there are several options. Something may come to fruition or not... I don't see it happening in the short term. We don't see it that way, so we have to wait and see.' A product of Sociedad's youth system, Zubimendi has gone on to play 236 times for the club, while he has represented Spain on 17 occasions. He has long been regarded as one of the best midfielders in LaLiga and last summer was close to joining Liverpool, who came in for him after he helped Spain to win Euro 2024. However, Zubimendi ultimately decided to stay at Sociedad after his boyhood club attempted to change his mind. Despite Aperribay's comments, Zubimendi is still expected to join Arsenal, where he will reduce their reliance on Thomas Partey, who is in talks over a new contract. This viewpoint was echoed by incoming Sociedad sporting director Erik Bretos, although he insisted the club do not have to sell the 26-year-old. 'I would love for him to stay at Real Sociedad for a lifetime, but at the same time, since he's so good, our duty in that case is to be prepared in case he ever leaves Real Sociedad,' he said. 'But I would also like to remember a little about what happened with him here last summer, and for me at least, it's something that will always stay with me and for which I will always be grateful. 'Sociedad have become strong in doing things well and not needing to sell. From what the board and the president tell me, that's the situation right now. 'What we're very clear about is that we want to improve the team, and we're clear that we'll be able to do so.' Meanwhile, although Sociedad have claimed they don't need to sell this summer, they endured a difficult campaign in 2024-25. Imanol Alguacil's side, who were knocked out of the Europa League by Man United in the last-16 stage, finished 11th in LaLiga, 24 points off the top five, meaning the Basque outfit won't play in Europe for the first time in six seasons in 2025-26.
The Sun
18 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Man Utd transfer news LIVE: Fernandes' agent holds Al-Hilal TALKS, Rashford's camp ‘meets with Barcelona', Cunha MEDICAL
Big night ahead Manchester United will be looking to keep their season alive when they face Real Sociedad in the second leg of their Europa League round-of-16 tie tonight. The tie is finely poised at 1-1 after last week's first leg in San Sebastián, meaning everything is to play for. United took the lead through Joshua Zirkzee in last week's game but were later pegged back by a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty. Ruben Amorim has insisted that while winning the Europa League would not "change a lot", it would give the team more energy. He said: "It is also important; it will give us more energy to continue the season."
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Arsenal face nervous wait as Real Sociedad look to repeat Martin Zubimendi trick
Arsenal are front-runners in the race to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi for £51m but there is still time for a spanner to be thrown into the works Arsenal's move for Martin Zubimendi has long looked like a matter of when rather than if. However, the same was true of Liverpool's pursuit of the Real Sociedad star, and his current club are aiming to repeat the move which served them well last summer. After staying in San Sebastian to play for La Real in the Champions League, Zubimendi had looked destined for an Anfield switch. After a last-ditch plea from manager Imanol Alguacil, though, he decided to stay put. This time it's president Jokin Aperribay, rather than Alguacil, making a last-ditch attempt to keep the star around. They're ready to pay £51m for the Spain international, with reports earlier this week indicating he will undergo a medical before signing. Zubimendi will meet up with his international colleagues in June, after being named in Luis de la Fuente's squad for the UEFA Nations League semis and - if they beat France - the final. And, if Arsenal don't complete a deal before then, Aperribay has urged the 26-year-old to take his time over the decision. 'We've told Martin to go to the national team calmly, to think about it, and we'd like him to stay," Aperribay is quoted as saying by El Desmarque (via Sport Witness)."We know there are several options. Something may come to fruition or not… I don't see it happening in the short term. We don't see it that way, so we have to wait and see.' Back in 2024, Alguacil appealed to Zubimendi's emotions in an effort to convince him to stay. The boss is understood to have reminded the midfielder of the beautiful Basque Country and the local cuisine, and that played a part in helping keep the player at his boyhood club. ' Liverpool is a historic and great club and the fact a player like Martin said 'no' is a reason to be proud," Alguacil later said (via Relevo) 'That means that things are being done well at the club." While Zubimendi stayed, other key men did not. his former team-mate Mikel Merino joined Arsenal last summer, while Robin Le Normand made a big-money move to Atletico Madrid. Alguacil's side were unable to keep up their high standards, slumping to an 11th-place finish in La Liga. They also saw their Europa League dreams crushed by Manchester United, as Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick to complete a 6-3 aggregate win. It still looks more likely than not that this will be the summer where Zubimendi leaves. However, it appears his club won't give up hope until the deal is official. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
