Arsenal fans can rightly be a little frustrated with the Martín Zubimendi situation. For months it’s been reported, both in Spain and in the UK, that a deal was agreed and the midfielder would become a Gunner in the summer.
A week ago, we covered a report from the Basque media which explained Real Sociedad may prefer the deal to happen in July so they can count it on next year’s accounts. Those claims gradually made their way to the UK media.
Then, a couple of days after that, Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay said his club are still fighting to keep their player, regardless of Arsenal claims: “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.”
Zubimendi himself is currently away with Spain’s national side and has taken part in a couple of media events on Tuesday. At one of those events he was asked about his future, given the reports of an impending move to Arsenal.
Mundo Deportivo quote him as saying: “Of course there are options, but it’s true that it seems like it’s going to be a different, long summer, and I don’t know how it’s going to end. I don’t think thinking about that right now is my priority. I’m here with the national team, which I think is already quite demanding, and if I have to say something, then I will.”
On recent reports that a medical had been scheduled for the player and therefore even an announcement wasn’t too far away, Zubimendi said: “It’s a clear example of everything that surrounds football. I often wake up in the morning and read things that I didn’t even know I’d done. I don’t take it too seriously, but I wanted to upload those photos to emphasise that it wasn’t exactly the reality of what was happening.”
The photos he’s referring to are of a Basque beach, and he posted them to Instagram after a couple of claims he’d travelled to London.
As the pause on a move to Arsenal has gone on, it’s encouraged sporadic reports in Spain about potential interest from Real Madrid. Xabi Alonso has taken over as manager, and it’s well known he’s an idol for Zubimendi.
On that topic, he said: “I’ve always said he’s been my idol. I was lucky enough to have him coach me in the reserve team during a very important year, and then I made it into the first team. I don’t like to talk about hypotheticals; I like to talk about reality. It would be disrespectful to answer while I’m with the Spanish national team in such an important competition.”
Confusing times for Arsenal fans, with Zubimendi clearly not wanting to even suggest there’s an agreement in place for his transfer, and also refusing to rule out a Real Madrid move.