Mikel Oyarzabal firm on his future amid Barcelona links: ‘You can say no to them’

Mikel Oyarzabal firm on his future amid Barcelona links: ‘You can say no to them’ Real Sociedad forward Mikel Oyarzabal has addressed speculation surrounding his future while also putting an end to the debate over Spain’s centre-forward position. After several years in which Alvaro Morata received much of the criticism directed at Spain’s attack, Oyarzabal has firmly established himself as the national team’s leading striker. The Real Sociedad captain has scored 16 goals in his last 17 appearances for Spain, including four goals at the current World Cup. His performances have not gone unnoticed at Barcelona, where sporting director Deco views him as one of the main alternatives should a move for Julian Alvarez fail to materialise . However, the striker made it clear that he is in no rush to leave San Sebastian. Oyarzabal is on Barcelona’s radar. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) “Can you say no to Barcelona? Yes, you can. Of course you can. Other players have done it,” he said in an interview with El Chiringuito . A lifetime at Real Sociedad Oyarzabal has spent virtually his entire football career at Real Sociedad. He joined the club’s academy in 2011 after leaving Eibar’s youth system and has since become one of the defining figures of the club. Now 29 years old, he serves as captain and has established himself as one of the symbols of the Basque side, scoring 133 goals in 437 appearances. During the interview, Oyarzabal explained why he feels so connected to the club, saying: “I’m incredibly happy in San Sebastian. I consider Real Sociedad my home. It’s a place where I can live the life I want alongside the people closest to me. I’ve always said I’m exactly where I want to be.” But he does not completely close the door Although his message strongly favored staying at Real Sociedad, Oyarzabal stopped short of ruling out a future transfer altogether. “In life, you never know what can happen. Football can change very quickly,” he stated, leaving the door open. An affordable alternative to Barcelona. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images) Those comments leave open the possibility of a move should circumstances evolve in the future. Barcelona’s alternatives to Julian Alvarez Barcelona continue to prioritize the signing of Julian Alvarez, but Atletico Madrid’s reluctance to negotiate has forced the club to explore other options. One of the alternatives on the club’s radar is Oyarzabal. The Spanish international offers several qualities that appeal to Barcelona: extensive experience in La Liga, established relationships with many current Barcelona players through the Spanish national team and a considerably more affordable transfer fee. Alongside Oyarzabal, Deco is also monitoring Eli Junior Kroupi, the 20-year-old Bournemouth forward. However, signing the French striker would require an investment of around €100 million, significantly more than the amount Real Sociedad are believed to be asking for their captain.