Real Sociedad’s Russian midfielder Arsen Zakharyan spoke about his early days in Spain during an interview on the YouTube channel Okko Sports, ahead of Real Sociedad’s fifth-round clash with Real Madrid. The discussion touched on a brief illness that interrupted his arrival season after moving to Spain. On September 5, the club confirmed that Zakharyan missed training due to illness. He recalled spending five days in a hotel while fighting a virus and noted that weather swings in the region may have played a part. He described a period of hot and rainy days, calling the early days in Spain almost magical, and admitted that a cold might have contributed to his condition. The club and the player emphasized that, at the moment of the interview, all efforts were focused on getting him back to full fitness and ready for competition. The match between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad is scheduled to kick off at 22:00 Moscow time on September 17. In the previous season, Zakharyan appeared in 24 Russian Premier League games for Dynamo Moscow, recording four goals and seven assists, helping his former club finish in ninth place according to the league standings. Real Sociedad announced the transfer on August 19, with a deal valued at 12 million euros plus potential bonuses and a contract that runs through June 2029. Zakharyan made his Real Sociedad debut as a substitute in the 75th minute of the August 25 match against Las Palmas. Earlier remarks from Zakharyan had included jokes about his scoring chances against Real Madrid, an element that reflected his confident approach to high-profile fixtures and the expectations surrounding his adaptation to a new league .
