Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi insists he has zero regrets about turning down a move to Liverpool in the summer despite his side’s poor start to the season.
Zubimendi was the subject of a £52million bid from Liverpool and initially gave the Reds his word he would join.
However, Real Sociedad boss Imanol Alguacil managed to sweet talk Zubimendi into a major U-turn as the midfielder decided he would stay put in San Sebastian, with the manager reminding his star of how much he enjoyed Basque food and hiking in the area.
Yet Real Sociedad, who qualified for the Europa League thanks to a sixth-place finish in LaLiga last season, have started this year’s domestic campaign poorly.
Alguacil’s side sit 14th after eight games of action with only two wins and are already eight points behind Atletico Madrid, who occupy the fourth Champions League spot in LaLiga.
Zubimendi says he has zero regrets about turning down a move to Liverpool in the summer
Real Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil led a charm offensive to keep Zubimendi at the club
New Liverpool boss Arne Slot had hoped to make Zubimendi one of his first signings
Real Sociedad have also scored only six goals all season, three fewer than last-placed Las Palmas.
Despite the poor start to the campaign, Zubimendi remains adamant he made the right choice to stay put in San Sebastian.
‘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.’
Zubimendi’s comments come after Real Sociedad registered their second win of the season as they beat Valencia 3-0 on Saturday.
Zubimendi pointed to the vast amounts of potential in Real Sociedad’s team as a reason to stay
The midfielder has endured a tough start to the 2024-25 LaLiga season with Real Sociedad
A speculative report in Spain claimed Zubimendi asked the Reds to return for him in January
Amid his side’s poor run of form to start the season, a report from Spanish publication Estadio Deportivo claimed Zubimendi requested Liverpool to try and sign him again in January.
However, the report cited ‘English media’ as a source, so a degree of skepticism is required.
As for Liverpool, they appear to have found an in-house solution to their defensive midfield conundrum they hoped Zubimendi would solve.
Ryan Gravenberch, who moved to Anfield from Bayern Munich last summer, has impressed in his switch to a more defensive remit compared to last season when he largely operated as a left-sided box-to-box midfielder under Jurgen Klopp.