:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47032662/GettyImages-464227792.0.jpg)
It has not been made official yet by Real Madrid or Real Sociedad, but the deal is closed and Illarramendi will join Real Sociedad. The Basque midfielder, who is already in San Sebastián, has confirmed that he wanted to go back home and that Real Sociedad has always been his first option.
Responde Illarra a la periodista de la TV del Diario Vasco que "tenía ganas de volver y que la Real ha sido siempre su primera opción".
— Arancha Rodríguez (@AranchaMOBILE) August 26, 2015
This is not a bad move for Real Madrid, as Illarramendi was Benítez's fifth option for the double pivot and Real Sociedad will reportedly pay 16 million euros (plus four million in bonuses), which is probably the best deal that Real Madrid could get. It is a shame that he has not been able to perform as brilliantly as he did in Real Sociedad or in the U21 Euro Cup in 2013 but, hopefully, he will manage to reach his level once again back in Donosti.
Good luck, Asier!