Martin Zubimendi jokes he had to do ‘the worst thing in football’ after Arsenal move, it was ‘horrible’

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Arsenal signed Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad in the summer.

The Spain international was a wanted man by some of Europe’s biggest clubs. The likes of Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid were all linked with a move to sign him.

However, Zubimendi chose Arsenal, and he has had a great start to life in the famous red and white.

Before he donned Arsenal’s colours, Zubimendi had to do something that he feels is the ‘worst thing in football’ – the initiation song.

Martin Zubimendi jokes that his Arsenal initiation song was ‘horrible’

It has long been a tradition for players to sing an initiation song in front of their teammates right after they join a new club.

Many legendary Arsenal players did it back in the day when they first joined, and it’s no different for academy players either.

Bukayo Saka admitted in an interview with the BBC that he sang Let Me Love You by Mario in front of the senior squad when he got promoted.

In the summer, Martin Zubimendi was asked to do it as well following his move to the Emirates, and it’s safe to say, he hated it.

Speaking to the Guardian, the midfielder said about his initiation: “The worst thing in football! I had to sing: I did La Bachata, by Manuel Turizo.”

When asked how it was, he replied: “Horrible, horrible.”

Another new Arsenal signing hated performing his initiation song

For footballers who perform at the highest level in front of thousands in the stadium and millions watching around the world, you would think nothing scares them.

However, singing a song in front of all their new teammates and coaches before even getting to know them well makes many players nervous.

Summer signing Christian Norgaard, like Zubimendi, hated performing his initiation song as well.

He told Arsenal.com: “Yes, thank God I’ve done it! Every time after dinner when the players start to hit the glasses, my heart rate would start pumping. I was looking like the nervous boy in class!

“I picked an Usher song, Burn. It went well, I think – at least they applauded me.

“It’s the worst thing, it’s so much out of our comfort zone to be singing and standing on a chair with a mic in our hands in front of 50 or 60 people. That’s not the career we chose!”