Arsenal target Martín Zubimendi has told Sport he had no plans to leave Real Sociedad in January.
The Gunners bolstered their midfield by adding Jorginho to their squad on the last day of the winter market.
Prior to signing Jorginho, Arsenal made efforts to secure the services of the La Liga star and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Moisés Caicedo.
Earlier reports from Spain stated Mikel Arteta was keen to have Zubimendi and had urged the Gunners’ owners to complete his signing in January. Unfortunately for the manager and the north London club, they weren’t able to secure his services.
Today’s Sport have published a detailed interview with the Spain international, where he was specifically quizzed about the interest shown by Arsenal in January.
“Rumours, rumours, because I told my agent that I didn’t want to hear anything, especially in winter. Leaving Real Sociedad aside with the season we are having would be illogical. I am very happy here,” he said.
Despite the failure in January, Arsenal continue to be named as an interested party. Last month, Sport reported the Premier League side are one of the favourites to sign him in the next window.
Zubimendi explained: “I look forward to a quiet summer. Like the rest.”
Last October, the 24-year-old signed a new deal with La Real until 2027, which includes a €60m release clause.
When pressed about the clause, he stressed: “Beyond the clause, when someone wants to be in a club, the clause doesn’t matter. I think it is a balanced clause with all the aspects that the contract brought together. Nothing more than that.”
