Martin Zubimendi says he turned down a move to Liverpool because the timing was not right, and he believes Mikel Arteta is the perfect coach for him. Zubimendi joined Arsenal from Real Sociedad for £55 million this summer, after rejecting a similar move to Merseyside a year earlier.
Liverpool felt they had beaten off the competition to sign the Spain international, only to learn he had decided to stay with Real Sociedad. Zubimendi has already explained his “selfish” decision, stating that he does not “believe in ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunities” and that there was no reason to expedite his move to the Premier League.
Speaking to reporters on Arsenal’s pre-season tour in Singapore, Zubimendi is confident he made the right decision. “It wasn’t an easy time,” he admitted, thinking on last summer. “I intended to stay at La Real, but when offers arrive, you start considering your possibilities. Reported By Mirror.
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“The first question I had to answer was whether I wanted to leave – and it wasn’t the appropriate time. I felt like La Real gave me more opportunities and that I still had a lot to learn, so staying was the best choice.”
Arteta chatted on the phone with Zubimendi, who, like him, is from San Sebastian in Spain’s Basque Country, and they hit it off. After signing Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad the year before, the Gunners were sure that his former midfield partner would follow suit.
“I think it was a really well-orchestrated plan by the club, and everybody that was involved in it, to understand how we could get what we wanted in two different years, and both at the same time,” claimed Arteta.
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