Arsenal star Martin Zubimendi has revealed why he turned down a move to Liverpool last year and instead move to the Gunners.
The defensive midfielder has been one of the stars of the season after his £60million move to the Emirates in the summer, helping anchor a team that has moved to the top of the Premier League table.
He has played nine times for the Gunners so far this term, featuring for 90 minutes in every match apart from three, and has also allowed Mikel Arteta to unlock Declan Rice in the Arsenal midfield.
But he almost joined one of Arsenal’s closest rivals on the pitch in Liverpool. Last summer, when Liverpool were chasing a No 6, they had agreed a deal with Real Sociedad to sign the Spaniard.
Zubimendi also gave Liverpool his word that he would join the club, but went back on his decision and instead opted to stay with his boyhood side for another year before moving to the Emirates.
Now, he has spoken out on exactly why he turned down a move to the Reds last summer – and it appears it wasn’t personal.
Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi has revealed why he rejected the chance to join Liverpool
Zubimendi signed for Arsenal for £60million in the summer having turned down a chance to move to the Reds last summer
‘When any proposal comes, the first question has to be whether to stay at la Real,’ he told The Guardian. ‘And it wasn’t the right moment. I stayed and it was a hard season but I learned a lot.
‘I wanted to step forward, take that weight after others went. I’ve always tried to choose the right time and I’m happy with how it happened in the end.
‘I had watched Arsenal and I liked everything I saw, in terms of passion, youth, the feeling you got watching them. And when Mikel Arteta called me – well, if you’ve ever spoken to him you’ll know that he can be very convincing.
‘He’s mad about football, crazy about having everything under control, trying to get something from every little detail. He’s very clear on everything and the proposal he had was the best for me.’
Liverpool instead moulded Ryan Gravenberch into a top-class No 6, and went onto win the Premier League even without signing Zubimendi.
They held back the money and spent big this summer instead, with the likes of Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Milos Kerkez joining for substantial fees.
But, speaking at the start of last season, the 26-year-old insisted he didn’t regret the decision to reject Liverpool.
Liverpool had agreed a £52m deal with Real Sociedad and Zubimendi gave Liverpool his word
But he went back on his word, and Liverpool opted to save their money for this summer
‘My philosophy is to do at home at all times what comes from within,’ Zubimendi told local outlet Noticias De Gipuzkoa. ‘I went through uncomfortable moments.
‘The best thing for me was to stay here and I am happy and at peace. Because of the press there is a lot of noise but in the end everything is easer than all that.
‘Of course I don’t regret it, I can’t think that after four or five games at the start of the season. I made my decision from within, I thought it was the best thing to do, the results don’t affect me.
‘I see the potential in this team, you just have to watch us train and I’m excited about having a good season.’
Sociedad were 14th in LaLiga at the time, and went onto finish 11th before Zubimendi would depart.
This season, he is targeting Premier League glory with his new club, with Arsenal leapfrogging Liverpool last week on the back of the Reds’ defeat by Chelsea.
