Liverpool fans have every reason to be excited about the Reds’ pursuit of Martin Zubimendi, especially if Xabi Alonso’s praise is any indication.
David Ornstein of The Athletic recently reported that “Liverpool are pursuing a specialist No. 6 from outside of the Premier League,” sparking widespread speculation. Now, Paul Joyce from the Times has confirmed that Liverpool is considering Martin Zubimendi, who replaced Rodri at halftime in Spain’s Euro 2024 final victory over England.
After an impressive 2023/24 season with Real Sociedad, where he made 45 appearances, Zubimendi has attracted the interest of Liverpool, who are eager to activate his £51 million buyout clause. The 25-year-old has been with Real Sociedad since he was 12 and is now one of Europe’s most sought-after holding midfielders.
Zubimendi and Alonso share more than just a connection to Real Sociedad; they also share an agent and ties to their first grassroots club, Antiguoko. In a 2022 interview with the Guardian, Alonso, who coached Zubimendi in La Real’s B team, spoke highly of him: “Martin’s a player all coaches would want. He’s generous, always thinking of his teammates before himself. He can generate play, make those around him better, and always offer solutions. He understands the next step before the ball reaches him. I loved working with him.”
Zubimendi also had high praise for Alonso, saying: “I wasn’t even with him for a full season because of the pandemic, but those were lovely months. It was under Xabi that I started playing more; he gave me a run of games and showed affection, likely because we played the same position. He taught me to recognize and differentiate types of presses and how to overcome them. Before, I played naturally, but with Xabi, I began to understand the concepts of bringing the ball out and building play. He emphasized analysis, and we would walk through plays with inflatables positioned where the opposition would be.”
If Zubimendi joins Liverpool, he would serve as the deepest-lying midfielder under Arne Slot, a role currently occupied by Wataru Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Ryan Gravenberch during preseason.
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