Arsenal's Dilemma: Martin Zubimendi's Future Amid Madrid's Interest

Arsenal are staring at one of the defining calls of their summer – and it revolves around Martin Zubimendi.

Real Madrid have come back to the table. Not quietly, not tentatively, but with a revived, serious push for the Spanish international, who only a few months ago was central to Arsenal’s Premier League title win.

Mourinho’s green light – and Madrid’s opening

TEAMtalk report that José Mourinho has given full approval to the move. The Portuguese coach sees the 27‑year‑old as the ideal anchor to tighten his midfield, a ready-made organiser who can step straight into the holding role at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Talks have already begun. Initial contact has been made over what would be one of the window’s blockbuster transfers, and Zubimendi’s camp have indicated he is very keen on the idea of returning to Spain with Madrid.

From Madrid’s side, there is a sense this is an opportunity they cannot ignore. They missed out on Rodri and, with uncertainty over Eduardo Camavinga’s future, Mourinho wants more authority and control in the middle of the pitch. Zubimendi fits that brief perfectly.

Arsenal’s mixed signals

Arsenal, though, are not actively shopping him. The club are open to listening, but only at the right level. Internally, there are conflicting noises over just how open that door really is.

According to The Sun, Mikel Arteta is desperate to keep Zubimendi and would only even contemplate a sale if an extraordinary bid lands on the table. Arteta views him as a core part of the project, not a luxury piece to be cashed in on.

That stance could be tested if the player himself pushes. If Zubimendi decides he wants the Madrid move badly enough and applies pressure in the coming weeks, Arteta will be forced into one of the toughest decisions of his tenure.

Crowded midfield, big risk

On the pitch, the picture has changed around him. Zubimendi was crucial in last season’s title triumph, knitting together Arsenal’s play and offering balance behind the more attacking talents.

Now, his starting spot is no longer guaranteed. The £75 million signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United has added serious competition in the centre of the park. Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino and Guimaraes are all fighting for minutes, giving Arsenal a level of midfield depth they have not enjoyed for years.

That strength, though, cuts both ways. Letting an experienced, high‑level midfielder leave after just one season would be a bold gamble for a side trying to stay at the summit. Depth wins titles. Lose the wrong piece, and the whole balance can shift.

No need to sell – unless Madrid go huge

Financially, Arsenal hold all the cards. Zubimendi is tied to a lucrative long‑term contract, and there is no pressure from the balance sheet to accept anything below a premium fee. The north London club control the pace and tone of any negotiations.

They are defending their Premier League crown and chasing the Champions League at full tilt. Offloading a key squad member purely because competition has increased would run against the elite standards they are trying to cement.

For Madrid, that reality is clear. To have any chance, they will need to put down a massive offer, comfortably above what Arsenal originally invested. A routine bid will be ignored. Only something exceptional will drag Arsenal to the table.

Until that happens, Zubimendi remains central to Arteta’s plans – and Madrid’s pursuit stays exactly what it is right now: ambitious, aggressive, and entirely in Arsenal’s hands.