Arsenal midfielder has become the focus of a brewing dispute involving his former clubs.
Transfer issue over Arsenal midfielder
Martin Zubimendi’s big-money move to Arsenal has sparked a fresh row back in Spain. The player moved to Mikel Arteta’s team during the summer for a fee of about £60m. He is currently placed in the center of a conflict between his old clubs, Real Sociedad and Antiguoko.
The issue began when Antiguoko, the youth club where Zubimendi first developed his game, claimed they are yet to receive their share from the transfer fee. As per reports, the Basque academy is of the opinion that it is entitled to approximately £870,000 from the move of the Spaniard to north London.
At the same time, Sociedad faced a huge issue by letting go of one of their star midfielders. Zubimendi has already caught the eyes of some high-profile teams like Real Madrid. There, Xabi Alonso has just been made the head coach.
However, the player chose Arsenal. He was lured in by Arteta’s project and the PL challenge. His decision appeared to be a seamless move until the payment conflict arose. That has brought the financial transactions of his previous club under the microscope.
Legal battle looms in Spain
Antiguoko has reportedly taken legal action to recover what they claim is rightfully theirs. The youth club insists it’s entitled to get their share under development rules set by FIFA. That ensures smaller clubs are rewarded for growing future stars. If the claim holds up, Sociedad could face penalties or be forced into settlement talks.
Zubimendi remains committed to his game in the PL for now. In the meantime, avoiding the escalating fight at home. Even so, the problems on the pitch are very evident and may cover what was supposed to be a new beginning for him at Arsenal.
Author’s opinion:
Zubimendi’s move should have been a clean success story for all involved. Although, it’s become another reminder of how tangled football finances can get when youth clubs fight for fair credit.
As featured on GoonerNews.com