Zubimendi Delivers Emphatic 'No' to Real Madrid's Summer Approach

Real Madrid's attempts to lure Martin Zubimendi away from Arsenal have hit a dead end, with the Spanish midfielder delivering a swift and unequivocal rejection to Florentino Pérez's advances.

The 28-year-old, who arrived at the Emirates for €60million from Real Sociedad last summer, has become an indispensable figure in Mikel Arteta's midfield. Paired alongside Declan Rice, Zubimendi has flourished during his debut campaign, registering six goals and three assists across 44 appearances in all competitions.

When Xabi Alonso took the Real Madrid hotseat in summer 2025, he reportedly championed Zubimendi as his midfield linchpin. Pérez, however, opted against the move at that juncture—a decision that ultimately proved academic after Alonso's departure in January 2026.

With Alonso now gone, Madrid's hierarchy has reassessed their midfield requirements. The club has been eyeing a cast of elite operators, including Chelsea's Enzo Fernández, Paris Saint-Germain's Vitinha, and Manchester City's Rodri, as potential solutions to their tempo-controlling needs.

Pérez subsequently made direct contact with Zubimendi's representatives, dangling the prospect of a Bernabéu switch. The response was unambiguous: the Arsenal star is settled in north London and has zero interest in uprooting himself. According to Spanish outlets, Zubimendi made clear his contentment with the project under Arteta and his determination to remain at the club.

The midfielder's commitment to Arsenal has earned him plaudits from the highest quarters. Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has positioned Zubimendi as the planet's second-best defensive midfielder, a ranking that sits only behind Manchester City's Rodri.

"After everything he's endured, Rodri is operating at an elite level again," de la Fuente explained. "I've stated he's the finest in the world, and we're tremendously fortunate in that position—the number six role—to possess the two best players globally: Rodri and Martin.

"Can they operate together? Absolutely. We're perfectly equipped to deploy them in a double pivot arrangement. In my football philosophy, they may inhabit comparable space, but they're distinct operators with contrasting attributes. Martin's now drifting into the box more frequently and contributing goals, yet he possesses those positional qualities—equilibrium and exceptional tactical intelligence.

"Rodri carries those same strengths, so having them anchoring us provides security and structural solidity. That said, only 11 start each match. Then you'd naturally ask: what of Pedri? Fermín López? Fabián Ruiz?"

Arsenal, meanwhile, continue their pursuit of a historic treble—Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup—following their Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City last week.