Medical concerns and workload fears derail Nayef Aguerd’s proposed Real Sociedad transfer

Real Sociedad’s proposed move for Morocco defender Nayef Aguerd collapsed at the final stage, despite an agreement between the clubs and the player’s clear wish to join the Spanish side.

Aguerd, who belongs to Marseille, had reached an understanding on almost every aspect of the transfer and appeared to be on the verge of moving to Real Sociedad. The deal was understood to require only the routine medical procedures before completion.

Instead, the agreement broke down in a dramatic and unusual ending, with the Basque club left without the experienced left-footed centre-back it had identified as an urgent priority.

According to Mundo Deportivo, two conflicting accounts have emerged over what caused the transfer to fail when Aguerd was so close to arriving at Anoeta.

The version from people close to the player centres on a conversation between Aguerd and Real Sociedad manager Pellegrino Matarazzo. During that discussion, the American coach is said to have made clear that the defender would need to perform at a high level from the beginning and immediately take up a starting position.

That expectation was linked to Real Sociedad’s demanding schedule, with the club facing a run of eight matches before the next international break. Aguerd, however, was returning from a lengthy spell out after undergoing surgery in March for a troublesome case of inflammation in the pubic area.

From the player’s perspective, accepting such intense physical demands without first having time to rebuild his match fitness represented a significant risk. That was reportedly the reason he chose to halt the transfer process.

The account coming from inside Real Sociedad is markedly different.

Noticias de Gipuzkoa reported that the central issue was medical rather than tactical or contractual. Aguerd underwent an initial medical examination in France under the supervision of the medical staff at his parent club, and the reports sent to Real Sociedad subsequently raised serious concerns within the Spanish organisation.

Real Sociedad’s medical department reportedly questioned the findings and was not convinced they guaranteed that the centre-back could return to competition without pain after several months away following his surgery.

The club was also concerned that, in his current condition, Aguerd might not be able to recover the physical level required to compete at maximum intensity with sufficient assurances.

Although the two explanations differ substantially, they point to the same underlying reality: Real Sociedad need defensive reinforcements immediately.

The club was not pursuing Aguerd as a long-term project or a developmental gamble. Its intention was to find a defender capable of making an instant contribution to a weakened back line.

Real Sociedad are currently short of options in central defence because of the physical problems affecting Jon Pacheco. Their available centre-backs are limited to Jon Martin, who holds a reserve-team registration, Igor Zubeldia and the very young Bietia.

That shortage explains why signing an experienced, left-footed centre-back with leadership qualities has been an absolute priority for Real Sociedad throughout the summer transfer window.

The collapse of the Aguerd deal therefore leaves the club still searching for a solution to the same problem, with the need for an immediate defensive presence unresolved.