Xavi hails Real Sociedad midfielder: Zubimendi's an extraordinary pivot
The Barcelona transfer target will play at Spotify Camp Nou this weekend
Xavi Hernández couldn't avoid the question on Friday. Barcelona's opponent on Saturday at Spotify Camp Nou is Real Sociedad and Martin Zubimendi plays in the midfield for Imanol Alguacil's side. The Barça coach has never hidden the fact that he is a player he loves and that he is one of his requests to the sporting management to replace the outgoing Sergio Busquets.
The Barça coach has praised the La Real midfielder and made it very clear that he sees him as capable of integrating into the azulgrana's style of play. "Zubimendi is an extraordinary pivot. He dominates the game, the moments with and without the ball. He wins duels, he is an extraordinary player in that position. He understands the model we like at Barça," he stated.
The problem with his signing is the price. He has a 60 million euro buy-out clause and the club from San Sebastian have already stated on more than one occasion that they do not intend to lower the price. Furthermore, Zubimendi is also liked in the Premier League. Xavi, however, continues to insist to those in charge that they try until the last moment to sign him and it is for this reason that Barça do not rule out offering players in exchange to try to get Real Sociedad to open up to a possible negotiation.
PRIORITY
Xavi insisted that signing a defensive midfielder is "a priority" with the departure of Busquets. "Until now we didn't know if Busquets was going to continue. The priority for next season is the signing of a defensive midfielder," he said emphatically.
The Barça coach also stressed that he loves Real Sociedad as a team. "I like the whole of Real, Imanol is doing an extraordinary job, they press high, with a very high defensive line, they don't lose balls..."
