Zubimendi, alien to modern football | Football | Sport

When everything seems to be moving quickly, both in football and in life, Martin Zubimendi is patient. Having replaced Rodri, he does not hesitate to wait for his chance in the Spanish team. Quiet on the bench, but loud on the pitch: when the opportunity arises, he takes it. This happened at the last European Championship in Germany and during the current national break. He did it last Saturday in Murcia against Denmark (1-0), and Luis de la Fuente will take the field today against Serbia in Cordoba (20:45, La1).

He is also quietly waiting for the moment to make the jump to a big European team. This summer, when it looked like he was about to board a plane to land at legendary Liverpool, Zubimendi refused to leave the club of his life, Real Sociedad. He didn’t even care that two of Imanol’s key players, Le Normand (who went to Atlético Madrid) and Mikel Merino (who went to Arsenal), left San Sebastian. “I stayed calm and decided it was best this way. “I won’t care what we do,” commented the Spanish player.

It wasn’t the first time Subimendi stopped his ears at the prospect of leaving Real Sociedad, and it wouldn’t be the last. However, he always has the same answer: “My philosophy is to always do what comes from within me. It is true that teams compete in every market, as is usually the case. I thought it was best for me to continue working at my club, I strive for personal growth and have a lot to give to Real Sociedad. In the summer of 2023, it was Xavi Hernandez who insisted that he sign for Barcelona after saying goodbye to Sergio Busquets. “I think this is very good and very important for his team,” admitted the now former Barca coach. Something similar is happening now with Manchester City. The English club, as reported by Relevo, is ready to pay 60 million euros under its contract termination clause.

The same thing happened to Guardiola as to De la Fuente: he lost Rodri. “The best stronghold in the world”, according to the Spanish national team coach. But the La Roja coach was lucky, but the Manchester coach was not: “Zubimendi is a great player, the second best football player in the world.” De la Fuente’s words are not new or important to Subimendi; on the contrary, they give him confidence. “I appreciate your words, but most of all the confidence you give and show me. To be second or third is a different matter, but above all the confidence he has given me since I moved to the under-21s. Then he gave me the opportunity to make my debut in the senior team, minutes, and I am grateful to him,” he commented. Real Madrid’s centerpiece, Spain’s hero against Denmark, made it 1-0 in the 80th minute.

“I was looking forward to the first goal,” Zubimendi said. According to the Federation, the Real Madrid player’s goal was the best thing that could have happened to the coaching staff: “The one who needed the most confidence scored.” Zubimendi’s match against Denmark, La Roja’s first since Rodri’s serious injury – he tore a ligament – was played at pivot tempo: when it activated, La Roja woke up. “In the second half we were on top. I don’t know if he got better because of that or if the whole team got better because he got better. Martin gives you everything you ask for and he is fantastically talented. He is a footballer who has some value. He always plays very calmly, very calmly, always very judiciously,” De la Fuente emphasized.

Continuity in the team

The Spanish national team coach praises him in the press center and defends him on the field. “We will try to find a moment for each of them, but you know that we are incredibly lucky with Martin and also with other fantastic players like Aleis, Pepelu…,” De la Fuente said. “But,” he added, “we are going to provide continuity to the team because they need it. The idea is reinforced by repetition of stimuli, and that is what we want to continue to provoke. It’s a luxury to have players like that, they’re very good.”

Without Lamin, Yamal De la Fuente will rely on a similar lineup in the match against Serbia. “It will be a very difficult match because Serbia needs to achieve a good result tomorrow. All their players play in the major European leagues and we are already seeing them perform there. They have nothing to do with Denmark; Serbia is a team that runs a lot and counterattacks. This is a game that will require a lot of maturity and new knowledge. Physically they are very powerful and tactically very balanced,” analyzed De la Fuente.

If Spain beat Serbia in Cordoba today, they will secure a spot in the Nations League quarter-finals, with two games remaining, against Denmark and Switzerland in November. “We will continue to demand from ourselves. We all want to win, and we all have the right to have the proper tools to win. This is what we are paid for,” concluded De la Fuente. He is not worried about losing Lamin Yamal to Serbia or Rodri, who is out until next season. He has Martin Zubimendi, the contract type: he lives slowly, not paying attention to the temptations of the prime minister. If not, ask Liverpool.