Xavi’s most wanted signing scored in a highly demanded final

Martín Zubimendi isprobably, Xavi Hernández’s most wanted signing when at the end of the 2022-23 season it was officially confirmed the departure of Sergio Busquets’ team, the perfect midfielder for the coach who closed his time on the culé bench at the end of the 2023-24 season. The midfielder of Real Sociedad has the conditions that, for the former coach of Barça, are the most suitable to cover a defeat as sensitive as that of Busquets, due to his intensity and his accuracy in advanced pressing. The story ends at the beginning, with Zubimendi at Real Sociedad, the club of his life, where he has a contract until 2027 and, by the way, where he always says he is comfortable. For the general public, Zubimendi played at the age of 25 The last Sunday the most media match of his career, the Euro Cup finaland he faced it in a very difficult situation. He made a note.

Rodri’s injury Hernández, named MVP of the continental tournament shortly after, forcing Zubimendi to jump onto the grass almost invisible, even so early. The reference footballer in the midfield of the Spanish team, due to his ability to provide balance and his proven hierarchy on the big stage, was unable to play in the second half of the final in Berlin and remained in the locker room during the break. The scoreboard still showed 0-0 initial, so the level of demand is maximum for Zubimendi. The man from San Sebastián stepped onto the grass, showing a look that, at that time, It was still difficult to determine whether it was concentration or concern. It didn’t take long to confirm that it was the first. The Spanish team played the best minutes with him on the field of a final that ended in victory with suspense that, given the football and the circumstances, had to be avoided. He did it all with Zubimendi scoring at high altitude, going into advanced pressure with determination and courage, distributing the ball with confidence and judgment and helping his teammate out of trouble to put the game away.

It’s 45 minutes, 49 counting the discountZubimendi doesn’t make mistakes. His passing accuracy is 97.5%but above all he knew how not only to make the absence of the most complete midfielder in the championship not noticeable, but even with him on the field La Roja played the best game seen in the final Euro Cup.

Curiously, accompanied by his former teammates David Villa and Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández attended Zubimendi’s display from the stands of the Berlin Olympics, where he won his last title as a Barça footballer. At the end of May 2024, when he felt his departure and knew that the option of bringing Zubimendi was the only one left without the club facing the exit clause of 60 million euros, Xavi almost gave a message that sounded like goodbye to a signing. “I said last year that Zubimendi seemed very important and very good to me,” he said without elaborating. His earlier descriptions were more analytical and enthusiastic. In January 2023, Xavi even compared Zubimendi’s qualities to those of Busquets. “They are different, because Zubimendi is more physical and faster, while Busi is better technically and sees the pass better,” he said. In May 2023, seeing Busquets almost at the boarding gate to Miami, he described Zubimendi as an “extraordinary midfielder”.

Among the many details left by this Euro Cup, we must highlight the positive international fame of Real Sociedadwith influences as good as Mikel Oyarzabal’s decisive last-minute goal in the final or, in the quarterfinal round, the one scored against Germany by his teammate in the San Sebastian team Mikel Merino.

surprisingly, Merino succeeds Zubimendi in ranking the market aspirations of the new Barça by Hansi Flick.