Dribble Diaries

The summer transfer window is heating up, and one of the most intriguing midfield battles is unfolding between Arsenal and Real Madrid for Real Sociedad’s Martín Zubimendi. The 25-year-old Spanish defensive midfielder has been a revelation in La Liga, drawing comparisons to Sergio Busquets for his composure, tactical intelligence, and ability to dictate play from deep. But as Arsenal push hard to secure his signature, Real Madrid have entered the race, complicating the transfer saga. Zubimendi now faces a career-defining decision: Move to Arsenal, where Mikel Arteta sees him as the final piece in their midfield evolution? Join Real Madrid, the most prestigious club in the world, but face fierce competition for minutes? By the finish, you'll know whether Arsenal can outmuscle Real Madrid—or if the Bernabéu's pull is too powerful. 1. Martín Zubimendi: The Midfield Maestro in Demand Background Age: 25 (2025) Club: Real Sociedad Position: Defensive Midfielder (No. 6) Release Clause...

Alexander Sørloth created La Liga history when Atletico Madrid defeated Real Sociedad 4-0 to guarantee their spot in the Champions League for the upcoming season. After just seven minutes at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, the Norwegian gave the home team the lead with a precise volley from Pablo Barrios' right-sided ball. Shortly afterward, Sørloth increased the lead with a low finish, and only a minute later, he rifled home to record LaLiga's fastest-ever hat-trick. The Rojiblanco's efforts culminated in a scooping finish at the half, giving them a nine-point lead over Athletic Club in fourth place. La Real, on the other hand, is still ranked 12th.

Martin Zubimendi, a midfielder for Real Sociedad, has agreed to a €60 million contract with Arsenal, making him the team's first summer acquisition. Zubimendi has agreed to a transfer to the Premier League after the Gunners notified Real Sociedad that they intended to exercise the player's release clause. After Jorginho agreed to leave Arsenal for Flamengo, Mikel Arteta made Zubimendi his top target to bolster his midfield. Given that Thomas Partey's current contract is set to end in June, his future is likewise uncertain. For a renewal, negotiations are still going on. After a seventh straight season without a trophy, the North Londoners will be greatly boosted by Zubimendi's imminent arrival. Arsenal is on track to finish second in the Premier League for a third consecutive year. For the first time since 2009, the Gunners advanced to the Champions League semifinals before falling to PSG 3-1 overall. Zubimendi signs a long-term contract with Arsenal According t...

Imanol Alguacil will leave Real Sociedad at the end of the La Liga season, and his next destination could be Saudi Arabia, with one of the Saudi Pro League clubs eager to hire him as their next manager. It was recently stated that Alguacil, who was named as La Real's head coach in December 2018, would leave when his contract expired in order to pursue new chances. The Basque team has had a rough season thus far, but they are still in with a possibility of qualifying for Europe, which he hopes to achieve as his final act. Since Alguacil's departure was revealed, he has been linked with several clubs. Bayer Leverkusen are reportedly considering him as a replacement for Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso, and the 53-year-old is already getting interest from the Middle East. According to Diario AS, Al-Shabab is very interested in appointing Alguacil as manager in the summer, and they are willing to go to great lengths to secure his signature, which is likely to include a sizable s...

Real Madrid may be seeking for a new manager this summer, but they are not the only La Liga club in his position. Real Sociedad revealed on Thursday that long-time head coach Imanol Alguacil will leave when his contract expires at the conclusion of the 2024–25 season. La Real's search to replace Alguacil has begun, and they have already created a shortlist of numerous individuals. And, as Diario AS discovered, some are more realistic than others. Girona's head coach, Michel Sanchez, has been on La Real's radar for some time, but the Catalans' terrible season has lowered his reputation in Donostia-San Sebastian. In addition, there are reservations about paying a price to get him to the club, given that his contract does not expire until next summer. For the time being, however, he remains the front-runner. La Real is also considering promoting from inside, with current Sanse head coach Sergio Francisco, who is well regarded within the club. Xabi Alonso, who forme...

After losing to Manchester United 5-2 on aggregate in their round of 16 match, Real Sociedad is eliminated from the 2024–25 Europa League. After taking an early lead in the second leg at Old Trafford, the Basque team had seemed on the verge of victory at one point, but they would ultimately lose 4-1 that evening. To put it mildly, the second leg was highly contentious. The visitors also had Jon Aramburu sent off for a last man challenge minutes after he had been come on, and three penalties were given—two for Man United and one for La Real—with one more being revoked following a VAR review. Imanol Alguacil, the head coach, made it obvious that La Real was understandably quite angry with referee Benoit Bastien. According to Diario AS, he stated unequivocally that the French official prevented his team from playing Man United. "You don't even know how to explain it without making excuses; it's cruel." Although United was superior, I would have preferred a one-o...

Manchester United's Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte will miss the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie against Real Sociedad after missing training on Wednesday. Both players were left out of United's 18-man travelling party after suffering minor injuries in Sunday's FA Cup penalty shootout defeat at home to Fulham, adding to the club's already long list of absences. Ruben Amorim is already without several players for Thursday's match against La Real, including Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, and Lisandro Martinez. Luke Shaw, Jonny Evans, and Mason Mount are still out and undergoing rehabilitation away from the group, as are goalkeepers Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton. However, there was some good news: young midfielder Toby Collyer trained on Wednesday morning before taking the afternoon flight to Spain. Ayden Heaven, who made his United debut at the weekend, has made his first European trip, and January signing Patrick Dorgu is available despite a three...

The Copa del Rey is not a competition in which Real Madrid has won the most titles. After all, it was long regarded as a secondary goal at the club, with La Liga and the UEFA Champions League being the top priorities. However, this season, the men in white have given it their all and are now in the event's semi-finals. At this point, the format shifts. So far, the Spanish Cup has been played as a single-game knockout competition in each round. The semi-final will be played over two legs, with the winner of the aggregate advancing to the final. Real Madrid's first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final takes place tomorrow night in the Basque country against Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena. The reverse fixture will be played at the Santiago Bernabeu, so the goal tomorrow will be to come away with a positive result and no deficit to chase. Madrid Universal provides three talking points ahead of Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid. Capitalizing on the draw. Real Madrid, Barcelona, and At...

Real Sociedad's hopes of qualifying for Europe have been boosted by a return to La Liga winning ways. La Real advanced to eighth place in the domestic rankings with a timely 3-0 home win over relegation-threatened Leganes in San Sebastian. Victory over Leganes relieved some of the pressure, as it was only their second league victory in the last six games, as Imanol Alguacil looks to find form at the right time in the season. It also comes at an ideal time, as they prepare for a crucial week of action, hosting Real Madrid in a midweek Copa del Rey semi-final first leg before traveling to Barcelona for league action on March 2. Alguacil has already suffered a setback in the Real Madrid game, with defender Nayef Auerd sidelined after being forced off injured against Leganes. The Moroccan international will be tested in the coming days, but he is also a doubt to face Barcelona next weekend, according to preliminary reports. One key player who will undoubtedly miss out against La Bla...

Barcelona will play Atletico Madrid, while Real Madrid will face Real Sociedad in the two-legged Copa del Rey semi-finals. Hansi Flick's free-scoring Catalans demolished Valencia 5-0 in the quarterfinals, and Atletico also put on a five-star performance against Getafe. Real Madrid struggled against Leganes, but Gonzalo Garcia scored in stoppage time to seal the victory. Real Sociedad completed the quartet with a 2-0 win over Osasuna. The draw assures that the final might be a clasico or a Madrid derby - though Real Sociedad, who have only appeared in one Copa del Rey final in the last 37 years, will have an opinion on that. When are the 2024/25 Copa del Rey semi-finals? Following a series of one-off ties, the semi-finals will be played over two legs. The first games will be played on February 25/26/27, with the second leg taking place more than a month later on April 1/2/3. Unlike Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, who forced their way into the top eight of the league phase table, Re...

Real Madrid decided not to replace Toni Kroos in the summer when the German veteran retired, thinking that their current players would step up in his absence. However, their present activities in the transfer market indicate that they will now address the position, and more specifically his role. The plan for Los Blancos was for Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni to take on greater responsibility in Kroos' absence, alongside Fede Valverde, but a mix of injuries, needs elsewhere, and poor performance levels has left Los Blancos deficient in the middle of the pitch. As a result, Carlo Ancelotti has found himself utilizing Dani Ceballos and Luka Modric more frequently than he anticipated. According to recent sources in Spain, Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi is their top midfield target this summer. The Spain international has a €60 million release clause and has been chased by Premier League clubs Liverpool and Arsenal, with the Gunners reportedly in talks with Zubimendi...

The Copa del Rey semi-final draw, which will be held at La Cartuja, will take place next Wednesday, February 12. Atlético Madrid has already booked a spot in the semi-finals, with two more to be decided today and the final one tomorrow. Everyone wants to enter a draw that now has a defined date. The semi-finals of CopadelReyMAPFRE will be drawn on Wednesday, February 12th. The last Copa del Rey draw will take place on Wednesday, February 12, choosing the two semi-finals and the grand final at La Cartuja. Will there be surprises?

Real Sociedad are still in danger of missing out on the Europa League knockout rounds after losing 3-1 to Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico. Imanol Alguacil chose his strongest lineup for the encounter in Rome, but La Real struggled from the start, falling down within the first five minutes. Taty Castellano sent the ball to former Real Madrid defender Mario Gila after a set piece, and the Spaniard blasted past Alex Remiro and into the goal. Later in the first half, Javi Lopez received a second yellow card for a clumsy foul, making things even worse for La Real. To make matters worse, Lazio will score again in a row just moments later. First, Mattia Zaccagni scored after Gustav Isaksen set him up, and then Castellanos, who was on loan at Girona during the 2022-23 season, added to his first assist. At that moment, Imanol and La Real were focused on limiting their damage. Brais Mendez, Mikel Oyarzabal, Martin Zubimendi, and Takefusa Kubo were all substituted before the second half began so ...

Martin Zubimendi, a Real Sociedad midfielder, has become the apple of many eyes in recent years, having moved from Barcelona to Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Liverpool, and now Arsenal again. According to recent reports, Arsenal is in advanced talks with Zubimendi, but they should not get ahead of themselves. Zubimendi has a €60 million release clause, which Arsenal is willing to pay, and while they may be in talks with Zubimendi's agents, Noticias de Gipuzkoa confirm that he will not make a decision on his future until summer. It would not be the first time a Premier League club had high hopes for a deal only to see Zubimendi back out, as Liverpool experienced last summer. Real Madrid have reportedly identified Zubimendi, alongside Rodri Hernandez, as their top target for the midfield position next summer, feeling that they have lacked control this season without Toni Kroos. If Los Balncos are to make a move, it seems likely, following the pattern of their business, they too will atte...

This season's Copa del Rey has already seen some upsets, with fourth-tier Pontevedra defeating Villarreal and then last year's finalists RCD Mallorca in consecutive rounds. They will undoubtedly be eager for the opportunity to bring Real Madrid or Barcelona to Galicia. The only criterion for the Round of 16 draw is that clubs from lower leagues meet La Liga opponents, six of which are in the draw. Pontevedra is joined by third-tier Ourense and Segunda División teams Almeria and Elche, which defeated Sevilla and Las Palmas in style, respectively. Once the clubs in the lower divisions are drawn, the chance of a heavyweight meeting arises, with the Madrid derby and a Clasico on the table. The draw as it occurs here: Pontevedra against Getafe - The giant-killers have a difficult challenge against Getafe, who have a smaller team than most Liga clubs but a cunning manager in Jose Bordalas. Ourense against Valencia - The second Galician minnows face a strong opponent in Los Che, but...

Following Aurelien Tchouameni's terrible performance against FC Barcelona in the season's first El Clasico, questions have been raised about his form. The French international has been significantly below his best level this season, with his performance against Barça in particular raising concerns within the club. In fact, reports earlier this week claimed that Real Madrid will consider offers for the 24-year-old in the summer, throwing doubt on his future at the Santiago Bernabeu. Martin Zubimendi is Real Madrid's primary target. Building on that, Fichajes says that Real Sociedad and Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi has emerged as a potential Real Madrid replacement for Tchouameni. Should the Frenchman leave the Spanish capital, Carlo Ancelotti's squad will be looking for a player who can offer balance and stability to their midfield, and the 25-year-old Zubimendi has emerged as a top contender. The Real Sociedad mainstay's solid performances and leadership in...

A piece of Spanish football history was secured for Real Sociedad star Takefusa Kubo on Saturday. By means of his most recent appearance for La Real, this much is known. At the moment, Imanol's team is engaged in a La Liga match against Valencia. As things stand at Anoeta, the hosts have the upper hand on the scoreboard thanks to a single goal from the previously mentioned Kubo. RealSociedad Takefusa Kubo, who scored his 24th LaLiga goal today, now has the most appearances in the competition (167), breaking Takashi Inui's record of 166. Samurai.   However, it was not his goal-scoring prowess that cemented Real Sociedad's wing wizard's place in history late on Saturday. Instead, his success stems from little more than his appearance versus Valencia. 'Takefusa Kubo, who scored his 24th LaLiga goal today, has become the Japanese player with the most appearances in the competition's history (167), breaking Takashi Inui's record.

After a brief hiatus for the first international break of the season, we're back with the top picks for football fans to watch this weekend. Here are our five must-see games. Birmingham versus Wrexham Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney believes his team's Monday night clash with big-spending Birmingham City will be a 'absolute banger'. Rob McElhenney can't wait to see Tom Brady when Wrexham head to Birmingham next Monday... 👀 Who's coming out on top? 🤔 Despite their League One status, the two teams have sparked widespread attention, thanks to celebrity owners and significant investment. After recording the ownership journey of actor McElhenney and Hollywood A-lister Ryan Reynolds, the 'Welcome to Wrexham' docuseries has elevated a modest Welsh town to the forefront of American attention. Tom Brady, an NFL icon, is on the Birmingham board, and the Blues have broken transfer records since their relegation last season. Birmingham spent more than £20 million ...

The summer transfer window for Europe's top divisions has passed, and many high-profile players have failed to join new clubs as predicted. Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting Lisbon) Goals are undoubtedly the most important aspect driving transfer interest, and few forwards scored more than Viktor Gyokeres last season. The Coventry summer signing erupted in a Sporting shirt, scoring 43 goals in all competitions for the Portuguese champions. Gyokeres' goals left Premier League clubs wondering how they missed out on a talent right on their doorstep, as the Swedish striker moved from the Championship to the Primeira Liga. He finished his rookie season with 58 goals and assists, earning the Primeira Liga Player of the Year and Bola de Prata (top scorer) accolades and attracting attention from Europe's elite. Sporting kept their talisman thanks to a €100 million (£84 million) release clause, although it's unclear how long they'll keep him. The 26-year-old has continued where he l...

Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay has provided an honest update on midfielder Mikel Merino's future, with additional talks scheduled for a potential trade to Arsenal. Arsenal is reportedly "closing in" on a deal of around £30 million for the Euro 2024 winner. But that hasn't been resolved yet, and Aperribay has indicated that Real Sociedad will meet with the Gunners to work things out. The president also stated that Merino prefers to return to the Premier League, which his present club accepts. The Spaniard previously played a season for Newcastle United at the age of 21. "Last week we had a meeting with Arsenal, another conversation on Saturday, and we haven't had any more," Aperribay stated of the present situation. "We will have one this week and see how the conversations go. We will defend Real's interests, and we will say yes if we believe the operation is in Real's best interests, but not before then. "Mikel feels very mu...