"Busquets was leaving, I asked them to sign Zubimendi, and they told me no for financial reasons. Xavi described the drop in expectations during that transfer window as a 'regret', painting a picture of how desired Zubimendi was."
"It's a rarity for a player to be wanted by Real Madrid, Liverpool and Barcelona and choose to join Arsenal, but that's what Zubimendi did. Arsenal haven't looked back since the 26-year-old became a Gunner."
Former Barcelona manager Xavi revealed in an interview with La Vanguardia that he wanted the club to sign Martin Zubimendi as a replacement for departing midfielder Sergio Busquets after Barcelona's 2022/23 La Liga title win. Xavi identified Zubimendi as the ideal candidate to fill Busquets' role, but Barcelona rejected the proposal for financial reasons, which Xavi described as a regret. Zubimendi subsequently attracted interest from multiple elite clubs, including Real Madrid and Liverpool, before ultimately joining Arsenal in summer 2025 for £51 million. The midfielder's eventual move to Arsenal highlights his status as a highly sought-after player across European football.
Read at Arsenal Insider
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