‘Wasn’t that hard’ - Martin Zubimendi says he has no regrets about rejecting Liverpool as Real Sociedad star opens up on ‘selfish’ reason for snubbing Arne Slot

Just when it looked like Liverpool would bring the Spain international to Anfield this summer, Zubimendi decided to stay put at Sociedad. After previously saying he did not feel any "pressure" to join the Reds earlier this season, the midfielder has gone into more detail on "selfishly" snubbing their interest.

He told El Diario Vasco: “I went on vacation, and it caught me by surprise. It wasn’t something I had planned. I reacted when the situation arose. It was an uncomfortable time for me but I weighed the pros and cons and concluded that the best option was to stay. I don’t believe in 'once-in-a-lifetime' opportunities. If you’re good and want to achieve something, it will come to you. There’s no need to rush. I looked at my personal progression, who I am, and the club’s project. I stayed because I knew this season would be important for me in the team, and I still had steps to take. It wasn’t that hard of a decision. There were many reasons for my decision, but I was selfish and thought about what was best for me – and that was staying.”

Zubimendi has since been linked with Arsenal, Manchester City, and more, but it seems he is content to bide his time and wait for the perfect opportunity. The Spaniard is a coveted player and will have plenty of options at his disposal.

It remains to be seen if Liverpool or any other Premier League team will try to sign the 25-year-old in January or next summer.