Real Madrid continue to keep tabs on the midfield market after missing out on Rodri, with Martín Zubimendi’s name resurfacing as a potential target. According to TEAMtalk, via Bernabéu Digital, Arsenal are now open to selling the Spain international following Bruno Guimarães’s arrival from Newcastle, while Chelsea have also entered the picture as serious suitors.
Chelsea’s push has a familiar driving force
Chelsea’s interest comes with a notable backstory: it’s being pushed personally by Xabi Alonso, who tried to sign Zubimendi for Real Madrid a year ago when he first took charge at the Bernabéu, only to lose out after Arsenal had already agreed a deal in March. Zubimendi has previously described Alonso as his idol, dating back to when the current Chelsea boss coached Real Sociedad’s reserve side in 2019 — a relationship Alonso now appears to be leaning on again from a different dugout. Arsenal, for their part, are demanding a fee reported at a minimum of €90 million (around £77-78 million) to let him go.
Real Madrid’s position is murkier than it looks
Real Madrid are said to be monitoring the situation closely, particularly Chelsea’s interest, given Zubimendi remains a player they’ve tracked for years — Madrid were reportedly keen on him even before he left Real Sociedad for Arsenal last summer. But that interest comes with real caveats. The €90 million price tag is considered too steep given the club’s current financial position after a record-breaking summer, and with all 25 first-team squad slots filled, any further midfield addition would require an exit first.
It’s also worth noting that not every recent report agrees Real Madrid are actively in the race at all. Diario AS reported just this week that, in the aftermath of the Rodri collapse, Real Madrid have effectively paused their midfield search altogether, with the club’s internal view being that there isn’t currently a midfielder on the market capable of genuinely improving the squad. That sits in tension with reports describing a formal Real Madrid enquiry to Arsenal — a reminder that Zubimendi’s situation, like much of this summer’s midfield saga, is still fluid.
Learning from the Rodri experience
Real Madrid’s hesitancy here echoes exactly what played out with Rodri, where Manchester City’s roughly €70 million valuation caused Los Blancos to hold back just long enough for Barcelona to swoop in and complete the move. With Zubimendi valued even higher, Real Madrid would need to feel considerably more urgency to avoid a repeat. Kees Smit has been mentioned as a cheaper alternative, though nothing concrete has developed on that front either.
One piece of business already settled: Aurélien Tchouaméni has agreed a new contract at the Bernabéu, closing the door on Manchester United’s interest and confirming he’ll remain part of Mourinho’s midfield regardless of what happens elsewhere in the market.
RMxtra Verdict
Real Madrid clearly haven’t ruled Zubimendi out, but “monitoring” and “moving” are two very different things — and after losing Rodri by hesitating on price once already this summer, the club has a recent, painful reminder of what happens if they wait too long to decide which one this is.