Martin Zubimendi felt he simply could not turn his back on Real Sociedad this summer despite having a very attractive offer on the table to make the move to Liverpool.
A Euro 2024 winner with Spain, Zubimendi s contract contains a €60m (£50.6m) release clause that triggered over the summer, only to come away empty-handed after Zubimendi decided to remain true to his hometown club.
Yet Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay has revealed that Zubimendi s decision to stay at the club had no strings attached to it.
Apperibay told Noticias de Gipuzkoa: “There has been no conversation with Zubimendi to renew his contract. There hasn’t been one now and there hasn’t been one before. He didn’t put any conditions on us.
“He understood the situation…