Barrenetxea set to start pre-season amid Premier League interest | OneFootball

Ander Barrenetxea will join Real Sociedad’s pre-season with the full squad this weekend despite the injury that ended his campaign. The winger was monitored by Liverpool and Newcastle last season.

According to Diario Vasco, he suffered a severe left adductor longus injury on 14 May, which ruled him out of the final two matches and dented his World Cup hopes. He is scheduled for fitness tests on Saturday four, then an open training session on Sunday five.

He made his Spain debut on 31 March against Egypt and, amid doubts over Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Víctor Muñoz, had genuine hope before the setback left him watching the tournament on television.

During rehabilitation he was linked with Arsenal, while Liverpool and Newcastle tracked him, yet no club has made a formal proposal so far. With the window opening tomorrow and little movement to date, a July or August approach cannot be ruled out, though the expectation is that he remains at Real Sociedad for his eighth season, nine since debuting at 16 in 2018.

The 24-year-old shone in bursts but lacked continuity. He has 234 Real appearances, with a best all-competitions return of 47 games and eight goals in 2024/25, and recorded 35 and four last season. With Aritz Elustondo gone, he moves up to third captain behind Mikel Oyarzabal and Igor Zubeldia, is contracted to 2030 with a 75 million clause, and already has two Copas del Rey and six European qualifications.

Source: Diario Vasco