Back to the Soccer Newsfeed

Illarramendi excited at Real Sociedad return

The midfielder will head back to Anoeta eager to revive his career, after his former team agreed a deal with Real Madrid for an initial loan.

Asier Illarramendi says he is excited ahead of his anticipated return to boyhood club Real Sociedad from Real Madrid, after arriving for his medical on Wednesday morning.

The 25-year-old came up through the youth ranks of the Basque club and established himself as a mainstay there, prompting Madrid to snap him up as a long-term replacement for Xabi Alonso in the 2013 season.

However, the 32 million euro ($36.