Discarded option for Barça? Zubimendi gets 'wet' about his future with Real Sociedad

Martín Zubimendi seems to be clear about his long-term future at Real Sociedad. The 25-year-old midfielder, one of the alternatives that FC Barcelona has had on its radar for a long time for the pivot position, this summer ruled out two very interesting offers to go to the Premier League and made it clear that, for the moment, it is happy in San Sebastián and has no intention of trying his luck at a 'big' club.

"La Real for me is my life, I think I've spent half of my life in there. A lot of what I am is part of La Real, it's my life," said the Spanish international in an interview with 'MARCA'. . The footballer has a contract with the San Sebastian team until 2027 and a termination clause of 60 million euros, non-negotiable for the 'txuri urdin' board. Arsenal and Liverpool had him in their sights this summer, but Zubimendi preferred to stay in what he has always considered his home.

Barça will resume the 'pivot operation' in 2025, with Zubimendi still on their radar

Beyond Real's weak start to the season, the '4' has left very good feelings in the first four days of the League, with 1 goal against Rayo on matchday 1 (in the defeat against Rayo, 1-2) and three complete games. In that sense, Barça has not completely forgotten Zubimendi, although Hansi Flick has managed to cover the midfield with Marc Bernal, Marc Casadó and Eric García.

However, Bernal's injury once again left Barça short of replacements in terms of pivots and, between now and January, it is not ruled out to go for a player for that position in the winter market if, finally, the club manages to return to the 1/1 rule before the end of the year. Meanwhile, the Real board seeks to 'tie' Zubimendi with a new contract that, in addition to improving his emoluments, ensures his continuity until 2030 or 2031, with which the San Sebastian natives would definitively move Barça away from the path of the midfielder.