Martin Zubimendi has explained why he rejected interest from Real Madrid and Liverpool to affix Arsenal.
The Spanish midfielder accomplished a £60m move to Arsenal over the summer and has enjoyed a powerful begin to his Premier League profession.
Zubimendi has featured in all eight of Arsenal’s league games up to now this season, helping Mikel Arteta’s side climb to the highest of the table.
The 26-year-old was near joining reigning Premier League champions Liverpool in the summertime of 2024 but decided to snub the Anfield club in favour of spending another season at boyhood club Real Sociedad.
Real Madrid then expressed interest in signing Zubimendi last summer however the Euro 2024 winner says he had already decided to affix Arsenal following talks with Arteta.
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Asked why he favoured a move to Arsenal despite interest from Real Madrid, Zubimendi told AS: ‘I don’t know, you get a sense.
‘Once I made a decision to go away Sociedad, Arsenal was a team that, from what I’d seen, suited me well, especially when it comes to play.
‘I also wanted a really detail-oriented manager, and in Mikel, as soon as I spoke to him, I discovered him.
‘At Arsenal there was a really young team, with numerous passion, very close-knit, desirous to win, and although they haven’t been capable of achieve this, that makes them much more eager.’
Asked if it was difficult to reject Real Madrid, who had just appointed legendary footballer Xabi Alonso as their recent manager, Zubimendi added: ‘I can’t discuss other teams.
‘Arsenal was the one I had selected, and I went all in.’
It has been suggested in Spain that Real Madrid are missing a player like Zubimendi despite the very fact they’re currently top of La Liga.
‘I don’t know, I don’t know. We’re talking about very big clubs,’ Zubimendi said when it was put to him that Real Madrid could do with a player of his profile.
‘To say that Real Madrid was missing a bit like me is saying something because all of the players they’ve are spectacular.’
Arsenal boss Arteta heaped praise on Zubimendi ahead of the club’s Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.
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Asked about Zubimendi’s form and pundits likening the Arsenal star to Manchester City’s Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, Arteta told Marca: ‘I don’t like comparisons.
‘I believe ‘Zubi’ has to make his own way, and he’s doing so. Since he’s arrived, his impact on the team has been exceptional, and that’s very difficult.
‘I’ve seen many midfielders reach the Premier League, coming from top positions in other leagues, and so they’ve struggled; it’s taken them a 12 months or two to turn into who they’re.
‘The speed and naturalness with which he’s adapting is surprising.
‘We’ve given him confidence and a transparent role, in any respect levels, including decisions we’ve made here with players who were there but are not any longer here.
‘We gave him space. After which, he feels comfortable with our style; it suits his way of playing.’
Arsenal are joint-top of the Champions League table with two wins from two, while Atletico Madrid are currently tenth on three points.
While the Gunners beat Olympiakos and Athletic Bilbao, Diego Simeone’s Atletico returned to winning ways against Eintracht Frankfurt following a gap defeat to Liverpool.
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