Real Madrid are continuing to monitor Martin Zubimendi despite the midfielder having only recently established himself at Arsenal, with reports suggesting the Spanish giants have retained their admiration for the former Real Sociedad star.
Madrid previously attempted to intervene in Arsenal’s move for Zubimendi, but their interest arrived too late after the Gunners had already reached an agreement worth around £51million for the midfielder.
A year on, the situation has taken on fresh significance following Arsenal’s £75million capture of Newcastle captain Bruno Guimarães, which has increased competition for places in Mikel Arteta’s midfield.
Arsenal, however, remain keen to keep Zubimendi and have little obvious reason to consider selling him. His current contract runs until 2030, while Arteta has already described him as a “key player”.
Zubimendi was on Real Madrid’s radar before Arsenal completed his transfer, but Los Blancos were unable to make their interest count when it mattered.
Madrid chiefs only entered negotiations after Arsenal had already reached an agreement for the midfielder, leaving the Spanish club with limited scope to derail the transfer.
The late approach ultimately failed, with Zubimendi moving to Arsenal for a fee reported at around £51million.
Twelve months later, however, the midfielder’s name has once again been linked with Madrid, suggesting that the club’s long-standing admiration has not disappeared.
Zubimendi’s profile remains attractive to a club such as Real Madrid because of his ability to operate as a disciplined central midfielder while helping his side control possession and the rhythm of a match.
His tactical intelligence and ability to provide balance could make him an appealing option for Madrid as they continue to assess the composition of their midfield for the future.
For Arsenal, meanwhile, the issue is not whether Zubimendi possesses the quality to play at the highest level.
The bigger question is how Arteta manages the number of high-level midfielders now available to him.
Arsenal’s decision to bring in Bruno Guimarães for £75million has significantly strengthened their midfield options.
The Brazil international arrives with extensive Premier League experience and adds another player capable of influencing games from the centre of the pitch.
That leaves Arteta with a midfield group that includes Guimarães, Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino, among other options.
With so much quality available, Zubimendi could face greater competition for starts than he would have anticipated before Guimarães’ arrival.
However, increased competition does not automatically mean Arsenal are preparing to sell him.
Arteta has already referred to Zubimendi as a “key player”, an indication of the importance Arsenal place on the midfielder.
His contract also runs until 2030, giving the north London club considerable leverage should another club attempt to test their resolve.
That could make any potential approach from Real Madrid considerably more complicated than the one they made before Zubimendi joined Arsenal.
Madrid would have to convince Arsenal to part with a player who was specifically recruited for Arteta’s long-term plans.
Arsenal legend Lee Dixon does not believe the arrival of Guimarães should automatically be interpreted as bad news for Zubimendi.
Speaking exclusively to SunSport via BestBettingSites, Dixon argued that modern football is increasingly built around squad depth rather than relying on the same players for every match.
“If you’re in a team situation and someone comes into the squad in the summer in your position, you can go one of two ways,” Dixon said.
He explained that players can initially interpret the arrival of a rival as a threat to their position, drawing on his own experience at Arsenal.
“You can look at it and go, ‘Oh, that’s me out.’ It happened to me several times at Arsenal where a full-back came in during the summer and you go, ‘Hang on a minute.’”
But Dixon believes the modern game has changed considerably.
“But it’s a bit more of a squad game now, so I think players are probably less worried when somebody comes into that midfield area.”
Dixon also believes the competition within Arsenal’s midfield should be viewed through the wider demands of a modern season.
“Zubimendi knows he won’t be expected to play every single game anyway; Declan Rice will be rested at times, even though he’s one of those who goes on and on. It is a squad game,” he said.
Arsenal are expected to compete across multiple competitions, meaning Arteta will need to rotate his squad if he wants to maintain intensity and minimise the physical burden on key players.
That could create opportunities for Zubimendi even if Guimarães becomes a regular starter.
Dixon compared the current situation with his playing days, when the arrival of a new player could have a more direct psychological impact on established members of the squad.
“In my day, if somebody came in, it really got your back up. You made sure that you trained and played really hard in pre-season – not that you shouldn’t anyway, but it gives you a bit of a jolt,” he said.
The former Arsenal defender believes players today are more accustomed to competition for places because squads are larger and clubs face more fixtures.
“I think it has less of an impact these days with the squad situation, so I’m sure they’ll knuckle down.”
The arrival of Guimarães has also raised questions over how Arteta intends to distribute minutes among his midfielders.
Mikel Merino adds another layer of competition, while Rice remains one of the most important players in the squad.
Dixon acknowledged the challenge facing Arteta, saying: “You might look at the midfield and ask how they’re going to fit all of them in – they’ve got Merino, a World Cup winner, and players who won’t want to sit out – but I think players accept it a little bit more now.”
The depth could nevertheless become one of Arsenal’s biggest strengths if Arteta successfully manages the expectations and playing time of his midfielders.
Arsenal’s squad-management decisions extend beyond Zubimendi. Myles Lewis-Skelly has also been linked with interest from Chelsea and Manchester United, according to reports, amid speculation over the future composition of Arteta’s squad.
The situations are not identical, however. Arsenal have made a substantial investment in Zubimendi and have committed to him on a contract running until 2030.
The key question is whether Real Madrid’s renewed interest will eventually develop into a formal approach.
The Spanish club already knows that a late attempt to hijack Arsenal’s deal failed last summer, meaning any future pursuit would require a different strategy.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are under no obvious pressure to sell a player they regard as important to their plans.
A significant offer could still change the dynamics, but Arteta’s public comments and Zubimendi’s long-term contract underline the strength of Arsenal’s position.
