Zubimendi delivers bad news to Arsenal

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 17 Nov 2024 10:40 GMT
• 3 min read

Martin Zubimendi has delivered some bad news to Arsenal, Man City and the Premier League clubs who hope to sign him.

The Real Sociedad midfielder has been a big target of the Premier League this year and he was close to joining Liverpool this past summer.

Arsenal are reported to have begun working on a deal for January, while Man City are considering signing him as a replacement for Rodri.

READ MORE: European Golden Shoe 2024/25

But the midfielder hardly encouraged possible suitors to bid for him in January.

What did Zubimendi say?

“There will always be rumours and now that January is approaching, there will be too, but I don’t waste energy on outside noise,” he told Estadio Deportivo.

“I’m happy with the way I’m handling it and I’m going to handle it.”

The Real Sociedad star decided to snub Liverpool this summer despite initially looking set to depart his boyhood club.

Liverpool had made an approach and Zubimendi initially seemed set to agree to the move.

However, the LaLiga side launched a charm offensive and managed to convince the 25-year-old Spain international to stay in his hometown, much to the surprise of the Reds.

Earlier in the year, Arsenal had also attempted to persuade the Basque star, but despite broadly agreeing on contract terms, he ultimately decided to break off all communication with the Gunners, leaving them frustrated and unwilling to make fresh contact when the summer window

opened.

The midfielder broke his silence on the matter in September stating: "For me, Real Sociedad is my life, I think I've spent half my life there. A large percentage of who I am is part of Real Sociedad, it's my life."

Zubimendi at Euro 2024

Zubimendi enjoyed a fantastic Euro 2024 as Spain won the title and he was deemed by many to have been the key man in the 2-1 final win over England.

The midfielder came on at half time for Rodri with the score at 0-0 and immediately changed the game.

Zubimendi has spent his whole career at Real Sociedad, making 202 appearances and scoring eight goals. He won the Copa del Rey in 2020.

Previously he played for Real Sociedad’s B team, making 50 appearances and scoring four goals.

He has been capped 14 times by Spain, winning Euro 2024 and the Nations League last year. He has scored one goal.