How Zubimendi can immediately emulate his idol Alonso at Anfield

It looks as though Martín Zubimendi could soon be heading to Anfield and he has the chance to immediately emulate his ‘idol’ Xabi Alonso. 

Liverpool’s interest in Zubimendi is definitely concrete and with the club known to move quickly to get transfers complete it could only be a matter of days before we see Zubimendi in a Liverpool shirt.

One question that is already puzzling fans is what squad number the 25-year-old could take at Liverpool?

The truth is we probably won’t know until his signing is confirmed but, by picking one shirt number, Zubimendi has the chance to immediately emulate his idol Alonso.

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The Xabi Alonso connection

Xabi Alonso, who made 210 appearances for the Reds, wore the number 14 on the back of his shirt whilst at Liverpool and, perhaps in a strange twist of fate, that same shirt number is available for Zubimendi to take immediately if he desires.

The No.14 has been unoccupied since captain Jordan Henderson quit Anfield for Al-Ettifaq last summer, before ending his spell in Saudi Arabia and moving onto Ajax.

In an interview with The Guardian two years ago, Zubimendi said: “[Alonso’s] an idol, a role model, so I’m delighted that he says nice things about me”.

Although Zubimendi was only five-years-old when Alonso made his move to Merseyside from Real Sociedad, the Euro’s winner now has the chance to follow in his hero’s footsteps and join Arne Slot’s Liverpool.

Zubimendi and Alonso’s relationship

Alonso is not just an idol that Zubimendi has admired from afar. Before Alonso was winning Bundesliga titles with Bayer Leverkusen, he was the manager of Real Sociedad B where he coached a young Zubimendi on his way to stardom.

In the same article by The Guardian, Alonso raved about the young Spaniard, saying:

“He’s generous, he always thinks more about his teammates than himself. He has that ability to generate play, to make those around him better, always offering solutions; to improve the move.

“He understands what the next step is before the ball gets to him. He has that ability to organise, the axis. I loved working with him.”

Although some Liverpool fans will have been disappointed when Alonso pulled out of the race to become Liverpool’s new head coach, they will no doubt be excited that a player with such high praise from the Champions League winner could be on their way to Anfield.

There has been lots of discussion about how the signing of long-time target Zubimendi could impact Liverpool, and the midfielder certainly looks good enough to slot right in to Liverpool’s starting XI, but with a deal not yet officially confirmed Liverpool fans will have to wait patiently as this transfer unfolds.