Arsenal’s summer signing Martin Zubimendi has revealed he turned down a move to Premier League champions Liverpool last summer, because he didn’t feel it was the right time to leave Real Sociedad.
Zubimendi joined Arsenal in a £51 million deal earlier this month, having turned down Liverpool’s offer a year ago to stay at Real Sociedad.
The Reds had been in negotiations to sign the Spanish midfielder last summer, although talks broke down after he preferred to remain in Spain for another year.
The 26-year-old who could make his Arsenal debut against AC Milan in a preseason friendly in Singapore on Wednesday, explained his decision in an interview before the match.
“It wasn’t an easy time for me because, I wanted to stay at Real, but when offers come in, you start thinking about your options.
The first question I had to answer was whether I wanted to leave Real, and it wasn’t the right time. I felt that Real offered me more opportunities and that I still had a lot to learn, so staying at Real was the best decision for me”, the Spaniard revealed.
Zubimendi joins Arsenal’s midfield lineup which also includes Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Christian Norgaard and Mikel Merino.
Read this: Arteta open to further summer arrivals
The Gunners have also agreed deals for Victor Gyokeres and Cristhian Mosquera, who are set to join the preseason tour later in the week.
“I don’t know what he [Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta] saw in me, but I saw him as one of the top coaches in Europe. At the end of the day, I wanted a quality coach when I left Real Sociedad”, he continued.
“I think I’ve found him. In the few days I’ve been here, I’ve seen how meticulous he is about every aspect of the game, so I think he’s the one.
The most important thing about this club is that they learn from previous seasons. I think the lessons they’ve learned from how last season ended will be key to getting even closer to this year’s targets”, Zubimendi concluded.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
