Gary Neville Reveals Why Martin Zubimendi Rejected Liverpool
The summer transfer window has been full of surprises, and one of the biggest shocks was Martin Zubimendi’s decision to reject a move to Liverpool. The 25-year-old Spanish midfielder had been heavily linked with the Reds, with reports claiming he had verbally agreed to join the club. However, it seems Zubimendi has changed his mind, and Real Sociedad are now in talks to extend his contract.
Gary Neville, a former Manchester United captain, has given his take on the situation, and he’s not buying the idea that Zubimendi simply changed his mind. On the latest episode of Stick to Football, Neville said: "For this to have happened to Liverpool, he has said yes to them and he has then changed his mind late. There’s no way, we have been there at different levels, he’s definitely said yes to them and then changed his mind."
Neville believes that there may be more to the story than just Zubimendi having a change of heart. He suggested that Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona could be involved, and that their influence could be the reason behind Zubimendi’s decision to stay at Real Sociedad.
"I never trust Barcelona and Real Madrid either being involved with something and saying we’re going to come, we’re not ready yet but we’ll take you," Neville said. "That’s always over there and if they come you’re dead."
It’s certainly possible that Zubimendi’s decision has something to do with the influence of his native Spanish clubs. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona have a reputation for poaching top talent from smaller clubs, and it’s likely that they would be keen to snap up a talented midfielder like Zubimendi.
For Liverpool, it’s a blow to miss out on Zubimendi, but it seems they are already looking to other options. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Reds are on the verge of signing Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. Romano claims the deal is "on", and it looks like Liverpool are set to sign the 23-year-old keeper.
If you’re a Liverpool fan, don’t worry – there’s still plenty to get excited about. The Reds are reportedly offering €30m for Mamardashvili, and with the start of the new Premier League season fast approaching, it’s sure to be an eventful few weeks.
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