Arsen Zakharyan throws bib and walks off before full-time against Espanyol | OneFootball

Arsen Zakharyan was involved in a late flashpoint against Espanyol after Real Sociedad opted against using him.

The incident came on 87 minutes as Real prepared their fifth and final change. Zakharyan was among those warming up, with Espanyol pressing and Real seeking to close the game out on the counter.

Matarazzo instead chose Gorrotxategi, recently back from pubalgia, to tighten up for the closing stages. Zakharyan reacted angrily, exchanged words with the fitness coach, threw his bib and headed straight down the tunnel before the final whistle.

Now in his fourth season at Real Sociedad, the Russian has impressed across pre-season. Even so, his future in Donostia is not entirely clear. He has not become the attacking midfielder the club thought they were signing, for whom Chelsea and Ajax once competed before he arrived for €12 million.

"I do not want to leave Real, but I have to show my quality on the pitch," he said, speaking to Diario Vasco recently.

Source: Diario Vasco

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”