La Liga heavyweights Barcelona reckon signing 23-year-old Spanish international Martin Zubimendi next year will be impossible.
According to reputed Spanish journalist Albert Roge, the trail leading to Martin Zubimendi has gone cold for Barcelona. Real Sociedad will ask suitors to trigger the release clause worth €60 million to part ways with the Spanish international. And Barcelona will not be able to afford the young midfielder.
Martin Zubimendi has established himself as one of the best midfielders in La Liga since becoming a regular for Real Sociedad. The 23-year-old has also broken into the Spanish national squad and will be a successor to Sergio Busquets on the international stage. In the meantime, his progress has brought him many eyeballs.
The Spanish international has turned out 115 times thus far for Real Sociedad, chipping in with four goals and four assists. And Zubimendi has captured the attention of many European bigwigs, including Barcelona. But the player is protected by a sizeable release clause worth €60 million.
The young Spaniard has emerged on Barcelona’s radar as a possible option to replace Busquets in the long run. As iterated earlier, Zubimendi will likely succeed the Barcelona captain on the international stage. And if things go right for the Blaugrana, he will take over from Busquets at Spotify Camp Nou.
But the Spanish international’s price tag is a stumbling block for Barcelona. The Catalan giants remain in financial distress despite their big-spending ways in the summer. But Financial Fair Play implications and a poor economic situation will hold Barcelona back next year.
Recent reports have suggested that Barcelona will not fork out €60 million to sign Zubimendi. And Albert Roge has speculated that the Catalan giants consider the 23-year-old an impossible target. So Real Sociedad’s decision to protect his value by inserting a release clause might be a masterstroke.
But while Barcelona might not be able to afford Zubimendi, Premier League clubs can pay the required sum. And with clubs like Manchester United, Manchester City, and Chelsea interested, it will be interesting to see if the Spanish international remains at the Reale Arena. For now, it is clear that Barcelona will not pay €60 million to sign the young Spaniard.