Asier Illarramendi is without a club after playing his last game for MLS side FC Dallas in October 2024. Now, he tells us that his career is not over and that he is open to new professional experiences: "I'm still preparing and looking forward to finding a new destination", he confesses.
This interview comes at an opportune time, as few know Real Sociedad and Real Madrid as well as he does. Throughout the conversation, the midfielder from Mutriku recalled his time as a Real Madrid player, analysed tonight's Copa del Rey clash, talked about his future, and predicted the future of Martin Zubimendi.
Motivated to continue playing
Question: How are you feeling personally and professionally at the moment?
Answer: "The truth is that I'm fine, I'm training with a physical trainer and sometimes on the pitch with another teammate who is without a team, so I'm keeping myself in shape, with enthusiasm and with the desire to continue, because in the end this is what I like the most and I'm continuing with my training and with the desire to find a new destination."
Q: Will we see you soon in a new team and how do you see the near future?
A: "Well, I feel very well, calm and with the desire to continue enjoying football."
Q: What did you think of your experience in Dallas and MLS?
A: "It was a great experience, very rewarding both on a sporting and personal level. At the beginning, everything is different when you go to a new country, but the truth is that from minute one we have adapted perfectly to the city, the club and my teammates... and everything was easier. Also, football-wise, the 2024 season was my highest scoring season since 17/18, so I had some good moments in Dallas."
An excited Real Sociedad
Q: Real won again this weekend after many games without doing so... How do you see the team ahead of the game against Real Madrid?
A: "This victory is a boost to our self-esteem ahead of the match at the Bernabeu. It is true that the team was not at its best, but what is clear is that they have always given their best when they have needed it most and I am sure, despite the great rival they have in front of them, they will compete and make Real Madrid suffer as they did at the Reale Arena."
Q: How excited do you think the Real fans should be about the possibility of reaching another cup final?
A: "Well, they have to be very excited because it is an event that is not very common, although the same thing happened in 2020. In fact, in 2020 we already eliminated Real Madrid in their stadium and, even though it was a one-off game, we made a huge effort to advance from the round and then win the trophy."
Q: Real Madrid will be in front of you... What plan do you think Sociedad will have to stop their stars?
A: "In the first leg, Andriy Lunin was the best player in the game and kept Real Madrid alive in the game and in the tie. What the team has to do is play the way they know how to play, they have already shown that on countless occasions and, although this season has not been their best overall, they have also shown that they are capable of doing great things. Furthermore, Real Sociedad are very fortunate to have a great coach who, apart from his footballing concepts, is a person who knows how they work."
Q: I imagine that every time you played against Madrid it was a special game. Because of your past in white...
A: "Always, playing against such big teams is very special, but as you say, playing against Real Madrid because of my past is even more so."
Zubimendi in white?
Q: What memories do you have of your time at Real Madrid? I remember a lot of pressure on you.
A: "It was a very nice thing to play for Madrid because I was playing for the biggest club in the world for two years. I had the opportunity to learn a lot from great players like Xabi Alonso, (Luka) Modric, (Sami) Khedira, Isco, (Angel) Di Maria and Casemiro."
Q: One of the most talked about images is the presentation with all your friends in the box of honour at the Bernabeu... What was that like?
A: "Just when my signing for Madrid became official, my friends told me that they wanted to be at the presentation. And well, I was delighted to be able to share those moments with my people. At first, they went to the stands, but when the president found out that my friends were coming, he put them in the box. And then you know what happened (laughs)."
Q: From your experience, do you think that Zubimendi could command the midfield of Real Madrid?
A: "Zubimendi can play wherever he wants. In Madrid and in any team, because he is a player with tremendous quality, with a very well-furnished brain and with an incredible desire to work and improve day by day."
Q: What does it take to succeed at Real Madrid?
A: "Well, in all honesty, there are several factors to take into account: quality, sacrifice, effort, personality and also that bit of luck that never goes amiss."
Q: It seems that (Alvaro) Odriozola was eaten up by the pressure of being at Madrid and has not taken flight... What could have happened to him to get lost along the way?
A: "In the end, every player is different, but the fact of going to the best club in the world is a huge leap and is something very difficult to manage because of the pressure that comes with it. Alvaro is a great player, as he showed in his first spell at Real Sociedad, but at Real Madrid he wasn't fortunate enough to show the level he had previously shown as a txuri-urdin."
