Real Madrid Targets Martin Zubimendi Amid Arsenal's Midfield Changes
Real Madrid have circled back to Martin Zubimendi – and this time Jose Mourinho is driving the move.
The Arsenal midfielder, who only landed in north London last summer in a €65 million switch from Real Sociedad, is again on Madrid’s radar, with Mourinho pushing for a deal as he looks to harden and steady his midfield.
Arsenal’s midfield shake-up sparks uncertainty
When Zubimendi arrived at the Emirates, the plan was clear: he would grow into a central pillar of Mikel Arteta’s project. A 27-year-old Spain international, schooled at Real Sociedad, brought in at significant cost to anchor and organise.
Then came Bruno Guimaraes.
Arsenal’s decision to add another major midfield signing has shifted the landscape. Inside Zubimendi’s camp, questions have started to surface about his long-term role and status under Arteta. Is he still as central to the blueprint as he was told a year ago?
According to Graeme Bailey, discussions have already taken place between the player’s representatives and interested parties as they quietly test the market and weigh up what comes next.
Arsenal open the door – slightly
Arsenal, for their part, are not slamming the door shut.
The club are not actively pushing Zubimendi towards an exit, but they are understood to be open to listening to proposals if the right offer lands on the table. That stance has immediately encouraged Real Madrid, long-term admirers of the midfielder, to explore whether a deal is genuinely within reach.
The problem is obvious: price.
Arsenal paid €65 million for Zubimendi only last summer. Letting him go cheaply is not on the agenda, and any negotiation is likely to be tense. The Gunners will want to protect both their investment and their squad depth, especially after building a midfield unit designed to compete on multiple fronts.
Mourinho’s stamp on Madrid’s plans
This is where Mourinho comes in.
The Portuguese coach wants more authority, experience and control at the base of his midfield. Zubimendi ticks those boxes – a calm distributor, tactically disciplined, and battle-tested in La Liga and now the Premier League.
Real Madrid’s interest predates Mourinho’s arrival, but his approval has injected new energy into the pursuit. According to the latest information, contact has already been made over a potential move, and sources close to the situation suggest Zubimendi would be very keen on the chance to wear white at the Santiago Bernabeu.
For the player, it would mean a return to Spain and a step into one of the game’s most demanding midfields. For Mourinho, it would be a statement signing in a key area of the pitch.
The next move belongs to Madrid’s hierarchy. They must first establish Arsenal’s asking price, then decide whether they are prepared to pay a premium for a midfielder who has only had one season in the Premier League – or walk away and risk seeing Zubimendi’s future resolved elsewhere.
