Conflict Erupts Over Zubimendi’s Transfer Fee

Martin Zubimendi’s former teams are currently in a dispute over the financial earnings from his recent transfer to Arsenal.

Real Sociedad transferred the midfielder to Arsenal during the summer for a sum of €55 million.

Court Action from Antiguoko

Antiguoko, Zubimendi’s youth club, has taken legal action, claiming they deserve €1 million from the transfer deal.

Roberto Montiel, the Technical Director of Antiguoko, expressed frustration about their strained relationship with Real Sociedad, stating, “At present, our relationship with Real Sociedad is quite poor.”

Past Agreements and Breakdown

“We reached an agreement with Real Sociedad that lasted until 2020, after which we aligned with Athletic Bilbao.”

“When Zubimendi signed with Real Sociedad, it was stipulated that we would receive 5% of the fee in case of a transfer, capped at one million euros.”

“Due to their conduct, we chose not to extend our agreement with them, feeling we had been treated unfairly.”

Antiguoko also accused Real Sociedad of trying to diminish their status, saying, “They are determined to undermine us at every opportunity.”

“The Provincial Council of Guipúzcoa has implemented a ‘territoriality’ law that restricts players from towns within 5 kilometers of San Sebastián from joining Antiguoko.”

“In essence, any youth in the vicinity of San Sebastián and its surroundings cannot join us, irrespective of their parents’ wishes.”

Outrageous Situation

Montiel further stated, “This situation is akin to saying that a child from a neighborhood on the outskirts of London cannot sign with any local club until the under-14 category. It’s absurd!”

“Real Sociedad has received the funds from Zubimendi’s transfer to Arsenal but has yet to pay us the agreed 5% share.”

“They have remained silent on the matter, prompting us to take action in court. We anticipate an administrative dispute to seek resolution.”

“They are likely to uphold their stance of non-payment. That money is crucial to us, as we pool it back into our academy.”

Additional Friction

“Another instance of our troubled relationship with Real Sociedad transpired last season when we planned to honor Martín for his sporting accomplishments. Unfortunately, Real Sociedad denied him permission to accept the award, forcing us to cancel the event.”

“We have coordinated with Martín to reschedule the ceremony at the end of this season, and I doubt there will be any issues with Mikel Arteta, a former player of Antiguoko, in attendance.”