Barcelona will no longer pursue Martin Zubimendi in the summer transfer window, with the Spanish international happy at Real Sociedad.
According to a report by Spanish outlet SPORT, Martin Zubimendi no longer features on Barcelona’s wishlist. The Catalan giants have moved on from the Spanish international, whose release clause is worth €60 million. And Sofyan Amrabat, Guido Rodriguez, and Ruben Neves are the top targets to replace Sergio Busquets.
Martin Zubimendi has come leaps and bounds since making his first-team debut for Real Sociedad. The 24-year-old took some time to get going and did not break into La Real’s senior side as a teenager. But he has not looked back since establishing a foothold at the Reale Arena.
The Spanish international has also broken into his national side, although he is yet to become a regular. Meanwhile, the player has turned out nearly 150 times for Real Sociedad, chipping in with four goals and six assists. And Zubimendi’s progress has captured the attention of several high-profile clubs, including Barcelona.
Barcelona will enter the market for a midfielder in the summer transfer window. The newly-crowned La Liga champions have lost Sergio Busquets as a free agent. And while the veteran midfielder was not the formidable enforcer he was in his pomp, his departure will leave a gaping hole in the midfield department.
🚨🎙️| Martin Zubimendi: "I'm more motivated to take Illarramendi's #4 than Busquets' #5." [@diariovasco] #fcblive pic.twitter.com/Ee6Wzkau6T
— BarçaTimes (@BarcaTimes) June 12, 2023
So it behoves Barcelona to invest in a top-class midfielder who can be a long-term solution in the middle of the park. And Martin Zubimendi had emerged as the top target to replace Busquets. The Blaugrana even initiated discussions with Real Sociedad over a possible summer move for the Spanish international.
But the 24-year-old has a release clause worth €60 million in his Real Sociedad contract. And apart from the potentially-high transfer fee, the player does not want to leave the Basque club anytime soon. So it is hardly surprising that he does not feature on Barcelona’s wishlist anymore.
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The Catalan giants are instead prioritising signing Sofyan Amrabat, Ruben Neves, or Guido Rodriguez. Meanwhile, Zubimendi is happy at Real Sociedad and wants to fill Asier Illarramendi’s void at the Reale Arena. It will be interesting to see who replaces Busquets at FC Barcelona this summer.
