Arteta Accused of Hijacking Zubimendi from Liverpool — Carragher Speaks Out

Liverpool appeared poised to win the race for Real Sociedad midfielder Martín Zubimendi last summer, with the player initially agreeing to move to Merseyside. However, at the very last moment, he reversed his decision—choosing to remain with Sociedad for another season. Despite this, he has now committed his future to Arsenal.

Jamie Carragher, speaking on Stick to Football, alleges that Mikel Arteta, a fellow Basque, strategically leveraged his regional ties to sway Zubimendi’s decision. Carragher asserted that Arteta reached out personally, perhaps offering reassurance that joining Arsenal would align closely with his values and career ambitions. With the prior commitment to Liverpool scrapped, Carragher believes Arteta’s intervention played a decisive role in securing the transfer for the Gunners.

Carragher stated:

“I’m convinced now that Mikel Arteta definitely stole him from Liverpool. He had agreed to come to Liverpool… at the last minute he said, ‘I don’t want to come… I’ll have another year at Sociedad.’ Mikel Arteta’s from the Basque area… he’s been into him and said, ‘We’re signing Merino this season, Arsenal will come for you next season.’”

This narrative underscores the nuances of transfer dynamics—highlighting how personal connections and timing can influence player decisions in football’s high-stakes environment.