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The Guardian
07-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
'There is no one like him': what Martín Zubimendi will bring Arsenal
The way Martín Zubimendi remembers it, the day he was given the chance to be a ballboy for Real Sociedad against Manchester United he was more nervous than when he had to play. Standing at the side of the pitch, he found himself transfixed, the game flying by. So transfixed, in fact, that he forgot it was his job to pass the ball to the players and at one point Claudio Bravo, in goal that night at Anoeta, had to come over and take it off him because he was standing there watching. It was the first time it had happened to him; it would also be the last. If there is anything that defines Arsenal's new midfielder, it is that he is so calm, so in control. 'He oozes assuredness from every pore,' says the Spain coach, Luis de la Fuente. 'He doesn't get nervous walking a tightrope with no safety net.' When he's out there, games don't just go by; they usually go where he wants them to. And as for passes, what he forgot to do that night defines him now: there were 1,752 of them in La Liga last season. No midfielder outside Real Madrid or Barcelona played more. Raised in the San Sebastián neighbourhood of Gros, where he has walked his dog daily, quietly heading across the beach or up to Elía which looks out over the bay, Zubimendi was Gipuzkoa chess champion at under-12 level. It fits the way he plays football, which he did even better: thoughtful, strategic, the whole picture. 'Martín is a player who will bring us enormous quality and footballing intelligence; he has all the qualities to be a key player for us,' Mikel Arteta said. Like Arteta, his coach now, Zubimendi played at local club Antiguoko, an extraordinary success story when it comes to football development in the city, before joining Real Sociedad at 12 and making his first team debut eight years later. Last year, his coach Imanol Alguacil said: 'There is no one like him.' Which isn't, in truth, what most people say. Ask anybody about Zubimendi and one name comes up every time, sometimes two. There is Sergio Busquets, who Zubimendi once joked had done a lot of damage to central midfielders, setting new standards, new demands, forcing them to do things they had never done before. And then, inevitably, there is Xabi Alonso who he says 'must get bored of hearing me talk about him'. Alonso too is from Guipuzkoa and began at Antiguoko before joining Real Sociedad. They play in the same position, with the same style, have the same agent, and listening to Zubimendi explain his craft, even sound the same. Alonso has been Zubimendi's coach at Real Sociedad's B team, taking it upon himself to teach him, bringing out the player he could see inside. Even after Zubimendi's promotion to the first team, Alonso would stop him at the Zubieta training ground and go through the game with him, offering advice. As for being tired of Zubimendi talking about him, forget it. The admiration is mutual, the values shared. This summer, Zubimendi appeared a perfect signing for Real Madrid. Alonso, Zubimendi says, led without it ever being for show; 'Martín,' Alonso says, 'thinks more about his teammates than himself. He has that ability to generate play, make those around him better, organise. He understands the next step before the ball gets to him.' He also understands that is not all there is to the game. Not least because he has been told it. He has talked about needing to see beyond the short pass, learning to shift the length of his deliveries, and there is a dynamism about his play that Alonso And Busquets didn't have. There's also an ability to do the more traditional duties of a defensive midfielder. Only four defenders in Spain made more tackles than he did last season. If there is one thing that Alguacil is obsessed with it is the intensity with which he thinks the game should be played, the determination to compete and put the boot in if needs be. Zubimendi reckons he might have been the player who most had the manager on his back. 'Imanol asks me to talk more, to be more aggressive,' he said. 'Your role is to be constantly helping everyone and talking is part of that. That and the challenges.' Zubimendi is naturally quiet, made in the Gipuzkoan mould. Talk to him and he's engaging, warm company, the analysis impressive, but there is no show. Everyone in San Sebastián knows him; outside, it is tempting to suggest, too few do. Or at least that, without a lobby to champion him, without any desire to demand the spotlight, he has not always had the recognition his performances deserved. In fact, when Rodri went off injured in the final of Euro 2024, to be replaced by Zubimendi, it wasn't only the England fans thinking this was their chance. Up in the directors' box in Berlin, where the presidents of the regional federations were sat, one of the Basque representatives heard the muttering from the row behind: Rodri going off was a disaster, they were screwed now, Spain were going to lose. The way he recalls it, he turned round and had a go, saying that anyone would think they had never seen Zubimendi play and maybe they should watch someone outside Madrid and Barcelona for once. For a moment, it got a bit tense. By the end of the night Spain were European champions; Zubimendi had dominated the second half. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion If they had doubted, De la Fuente had not. 'Rodri is the best midfielder in the world,' he had said, 'but Zubimendi is the second best. Martín gives you everything you ask for and has a fantastic talent. He's a guarantee, totally reliable. He always plays calmly, unhurried and every decision is the right one.' Others had seen it too. In 2023, Xavi Hernández tried to persuade Barcelona to sign him. The following summer, Liverpool thought they had him; so did some Real Sociedad players. At the end of the Euros, Álex Remiro had rented a house in Ibiza and invited the teammates with whom he played for both Real Sociedad and Spain: Robin Le Normand, Mikel Oyarzabal, Mikel Merino, and Zubimendi. Oyarzabal went but, one by one, the problems appeared: Le Normand had to arrange his move to Atlético Madrid, Merino was about to go to Arsenal, and Zubimendi wasn't sure he was going to make it either, because there were things to sort out. Not you too, Remiro replied, not this year. Next year, then. Home called and Zubimendi stayed for now but 12 months on it is time. 'It's hard to find the right words to say goodbye; it hasn't been easy but the moment has come,' he wrote. 'Once I had made the decision to go, I was focused on Arsenal because I think their style is the right one for me. [The manager and I] have a lot in common. We come from the same city and played for the same teams.' Starting at Real Sociedad, where one night Zubimendi let the game pass by him but never again.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
VIVEbiotech Appoints Patricio Massera as President
Veteran CDMO executive to guide next phase of global expansion and operational excellence for lentiviral vector manufacturer. VIVEbiotech Patricio Massera San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain, July 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VIVEbiotech, a leading Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) specializing in lentiviral vector (LVV) development and manufacturing for in vivo and ex vivo gene and cell therapies, today announced the appointment of Patricio Massera as President, in addition to his role on the VIVEbiotech Board of Directors. The appointment marks a significant step in VIVEbiotech's strategy to scale its capabilities, expand globally, and enhance operational quality and excellence following a recent growth investment from Ampersand Capital Partners, a life sciences and healthcare-focused private equity firm. Mr. Massera has over 25 years of leadership experience in the biopharmaceutical CDMO sector. Most recently, he served as CEO of AGC Biologics, where he led the company through global facility expansions and advanced its reputation for quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction. In his prior executive roles, Patricio focused on scaling operations, driving quality and operational excellence, and building world-class teams. 'I am honored to join VIVEbiotech at such a pivotal point in its evolution. I firmly believe that VIVE's unique value proposition is redefining the standards by which CDMOs address customer needs and drive meaningful advancements that improve lives.' said Mr. Massera. 'I look forward to working closely with the Board and the leadership team to enhance operational robustness, expand capabilities, and strengthen the strategic partnerships that define VIVE's commitment to customer success.' Mr. Massera joins VIVEbiotech's leadership team alongside Chairperson Dr. Stefan Beyer—a seasoned CDMO executive and former CEO of Vibalogics—and CEO Jon Alberdi, who has led the company's emergence as a global leader in lentiviral vector manufacturing. 'Patricio brings a unique combination of strategic vision, technical expertise, and operational excellence,' said Dr. Stefan Beyer, Chairperson of VIVEbiotech. 'He has consistently demonstrated a strong ability to scale organizations while upholding excellence in quality and customer service. The Board is confident in his ability to help lead VIVEbiotech into its next phase of growth. We are delighted to welcome him and look forward to working closely together.' Jon Alberdi, CEO, VIVEbiotech added, 'Patricio's deep industry knowledge and leadership skills are a perfect fit for our ambitious goals. I look forward to working together to deliver exceptional value to our clients and to further strengthen our position as a leading CDMO.' VIVEbiotech is one of the few CDMOs globally with deep expertise in both ex vivo and in vivo lentiviral vector development and manufacturing. Its fully integrated service offering supports therapies across a range of indications, including oncology (CAR-T, NK), autoimmune diseases, and vaccines. VIVE serves established global pharmaceutical leaders as well as emerging, innovative start-ups, with a customer base spanning Europe, the U.S., and Australia. About VIVEbiotechVIVEbiotech is a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) specializing in lentiviral vectors for gene and cell therapy. Founded in 2015, VIVEbiotech operates under EMA and FDA standards, serving over 40 biotech companies globally. The company focuses on scalable, high-yield manufacturing processes and cutting-edge technologies. With expertise in both ex vivo and in vivo applications, VIVEbiotech supports the development and commercialization of therapies for cancers and rare diseases. For more information about VIVEbiotech, please visit About Ampersand Capital PartnersAmpersand Capital Partners, founded in 1988, is a middle-market private equity firm with $3 billion of assets under management, dedicated to growth-oriented investments in the healthcare sector. With offices in Boston, MA, and Amsterdam, Netherlands, Ampersand leverages a unique blend of private equity and operating experience to build value and drive long-term performance alongside its portfolio company management teams. Ampersand has helped build numerous market-leading companies across each of the firm's core healthcare sectors. For additional information, visit or follow us on LinkedIn. Attachments VIVEbiotech Patricio Massera CONTACT: Naiara Tejados, PhD VIVEbiotech T +34 943 308 568 – Ext. 244 ntejados@ in to access your portfolio
The Sun
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Man Utd transfer news LIVE: Fernandes' agent holds Al-Hilal TALKS, Rashford's camp ‘meets with Barcelona', Cunha MEDICAL
Big night ahead Manchester United will be looking to keep their season alive when they face Real Sociedad in the second leg of their Europa League round-of-16 tie tonight. The tie is finely poised at 1-1 after last week's first leg in San Sebastián, meaning everything is to play for. United took the lead through Joshua Zirkzee in last week's game but were later pegged back by a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty. Ruben Amorim has insisted that while winning the Europa League would not "change a lot", it would give the team more energy. He said: "It is also important; it will give us more energy to continue the season."
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
🤔Take Kubo: switches agents, future up in the air
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. Kubo's words after the match against Athletic Club have set off alarm bells at Real Sociedad. "My idea is to stay at Real and for the team to improve, but like the coach said, you never know."Let's remember that Imanol left the txuri-urdin after the last match of the season. Added to this is the fact that "Take" is said to have changed his representation agency for this transfer window because the lack of European competition affected his goals. Fabrizio Romano confirmed that there will be meetings about his future next week. However, the club is calm because his contract runs until 2029 with a release clause of 60 million euros. 📸 Juan Manuel Serrano Arce - 2025 Getty Images
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
🙏 Imanol: Everyone slips up sometimes, I apologise
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. Imanol Alguacil has addressed the controversy sparked by his recent statements asking for a model similar to that of Athletic Club in terms of signings for Real Sociedad. Advertisement "He who speaks makes mistakes," the coach has acknowledged. "I apologize not only for that last press conference, but for the almost thousand I've done as a coach, to the club, to the president, to the sports management, to the players, to the fans, to you. I didn't do it with any malice," he admits. Alguacil also explained that he doesn't want to give his words more importance than necessary and prefers "to highlight all the signs of affection received" Are they afraid of the future without Imanol? "Real Sociedad is far above Imanol, above the best coach in the world, above the best sports director, above the best player in the world... Real Sociedad will continue," he explains. Advertisement "Real Sociedad will not leave my life, nor will I leave Real Sociedad. When the time comes to not come, it will be hard, but I will leave with a clear conscience, looking everyone in the face," he added. 📸 Juan Manuel Serrano Arce - 2025 Getty Images
