'He didn't quite believe it': Xabi Alonso shares what he once told Martin Zubimendi as Liverpool links re-emerge
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Martin Zubimendi is back in the headlines after a summer transfer window where Liverpool failed to sign the Real Sociedad midfielder.
News broke earlier this week that Arsenal had agreed a deal to sign Zubimendi at the end of this season, with Liverpool seemingly set to miss out on the Spanish international some months after seeing a deal for the La Liga maestro collapse.
However, Liverpool still remain interested in Zubimendi despite all signs now suggesting that the 25-year-old will join Premier League rivals Arsenal, where the midfielder will reunite with former Sociedad teammates Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino.
And Xabi Alonso has now shared new comments on Zubimendi amid Liverpool’s resurgent interest in the midfielder.
Zubimendi ‘didn’t quite believe’ how good he was as a midfielder
Speaking on The Spirit of Real Sociedad, the former Liverpool midfielder shared how he had to try and get Zubimendi to believe in himself having coached the Spanish international during his time as Sociedad’s B-team manager.
With both Alonso and Zubimendi going on to great things since their time together with Sociedad B, the Bayer Leverkusen manager knows the rumoured Liverpool target better than anyone having played a key role in the midfielder’s growth to one of the best in Europe.
And Alonso is seemingly proud of what Zubimendi has become since giving him the confidence to shine, with the Liverpool legend saying: “How good he was on the pitch, he didn’t quite believe it off it. I said: ‘Look, Martin, you have to accept it.’
“When you talk about a nice player project, Martin’s case is perfect. Players of this level, who have been fighting for the project for so many years and see the potential it has, that is because many things are being done well.”
What else has been said about Zubimendi’s future this January?
The final two weeks of the January transfer window look set to be dominated by Zubimendi’s future, with Arsenal firmly in the mix to sign the Sociedad star with Liverpool also keeping an eye on the midfielder’s intentions.
Yet despite Mikel Arteta’s eagerness to sign the 25-year-old, a deal might not be as close to being completed as first reported, with Spanish press refuting Arsenal’s agreement for Zubimendi, potentially opening the door for Liverpool to make a dramatic swoop later this year.
Indeed, Zubimendi would be a top signing for Liverpool even with Arne Slot settling on a perfect midfield trio with the Reds, and the Basque maestro could now be keen on making the move to Anfield six months after snubbing the Premier League leaders to stay at Sociedad.
