Martin Zubimendi, a Real Sociedad midfielder, has recently named his top three picks for the world’s best midfielders, and they all hail from Spain. Two of the midfielders in question are Manchester City’s Rodri and Barcelona’s Pedri, a stunning combination of talent, technique, and personality.
Rodri, 28, has had an exemplary year, winning the Ballon d’Or award after helping Spain lift the European Championship title. In the past year, he played 85 games for both his club and country, losing only one match, and scored nine goals and provided 14 assists in 50 games for Manchester City. When it comes to Rodri, Zubimendi is straightforward: “Rodri easy, the current Ballon d’Or. Not much to say.”
Pedri, 22, is another exceptional midfielder who has made a name for himself under Hansi Flick at Barcelona. He was part of the Spanish squad that won Euro 2024 and has been impressing with his goals and assists. Zubimendi has nothing but praise for Pedri, stating that he has “a talent I think few players have. Besides, he doesn’t stop running, he offers himself. A lot of personality. Apart from his technique, he works a lot and I can enjoy him.”
The third player on Zubimendi’s list is none other than Barcelona icon Sergio Busquets, a midfielder renowned for his defensive prowess. Zubimendi has drawn comparisons to Busquets due to their similar playing styles, and the Real Sociedad midfielder is effusive in his praise for the 36-year-old legend: “Legend. Absolute legend.” Busquets has been a mainstay of the Barcelona midfield for many years, accumulating an impressive 18 goals and 46 assists in 722 games before joining Inter Miami last summer.
Zubimendi’s comments have sparked rumors that Manchester City may be interested in signing him to replace Rodri, who is set to miss the rest of the season with an ACL injury. According to The Sun, City may activate Zubimendi’s £50.3 million release clause to secure his services, just six months after he rejected a move to Liverpool. Meanwhile, Barcelona missed out on Zubimendi in the summer, but their interest in the midfielder has been reignited by the arrival of Hansi Flick.
As it stands, Zubimendi’s name is being bandied about as a potential transfer target for both Manchester City and Barcelona. However, his current club, Real Sociedad, is also keen to retain his services, with just under three years remaining on his contract. Whatever the future holds for Zubimendi, one thing is certain – he will be a highly sought-after midfielder in football.
