Friday, 5th July, 2013
Real Sociedad may find it "very difficult" to keep their Spain Under-21 midfield star in Asier Illarramendi if the big teams like Real Madrid can front up his release clause, according to his club captain Xabi Prieto.
Illarramendi has been a target for both Arsenal and Real Madrid, especially after he was part of Spain’s successful defence of their Under-21 European crown in Israel this summer.
The midfielder played in all six games for Spain, while his Sociedad career has seen him turn out 56 times.
His release clause is reported to be at €23m, and with both his suitors well capable of producing that amount, Prieto feels Sociedad could be facing the inevitable question soon.
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"We don’t know what his intentions will be", Prieto was quoted by AS as saying. "But if Madrid intend to pay his release clause it’ll be very difficult to keep him.
"At the moment, we don’t know anything. But the club has already made it clear that if they want to buy Illarramendi, they’ll have to pay his release clause. And it seems that Real Madrid are willing to pay it."
Even if Illarramendi does not leave, Sociedad are still winning admirers for their brand of football that has seen them earn a Champions League qualifying spot.
They finished fourth in La Liga last season – albeit 10 points behind Atletico Madrid – but are preparing for qualifying, scheduled to get under way this summer.
And Prieto insists the team will always find the strength to move on from player exits, adding: "For the moment, [Illarramendi] is a Real Sociedad player.
"We’re talking about a hypothetical situation, but we’ll respect his decision. With or without him, the team will still be strong."
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