Real Madrid supporters, this one’s been simmering for a while — and it looks like January could finally bring things to a boil. Martin Zubimendi, the Spanish international who made the move from Real Sociedad to Arsenal in a £60 million deal back in July 2025, is reportedly open to leaving the Gunners in the winter transfer window, and Real Madrid are firmly in the picture.
What’s Going On With Zubimendi at Arsenal?
When Zubimendi arrived in north London, he carried serious pedigree — widely regarded as one of the finest holding midfielders in La Liga during his time at Real Sociedad, he was expected to become a cornerstone of Mikel Arteta’s midfield. And for much of his debut season, he was. The 27-year-old racked up over 4,000 minutes across 57 appearances in all competitions, chipping in with 6 goals and 3 assists — decent numbers for a defensive midfielder.
But things began to unravel towards the tail end of the 2025/26 campaign. Zubimendi lost his starting spot as the season reached its decisive stages, and that trend has carried over into the current campaign in damaging fashion. This season, he has managed just 289 minutes of game time across ten appearances — a stark drop for a player of his calibre and cost. According to a report by TEAMtalk, cited by The Hard Tackle, those frustrations have made Zubimendi willing to explore a January departure.
It’s a situation that will feel painfully familiar to any observer of the transfer market. A big-money signing struggles to cement his place, minutes dry up, and suddenly a club that paid top dollar finds itself potentially losing the player at a loss just 18 months on. For Arsenal, that would be a significant blow. For clubs circling, it’s an opportunity.
Real Madrid’s Interest — and Why It Makes Perfect Sense
According to TEAMtalk’s report, the three Spanish giants — Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid — are all keen on bolstering their midfield options in January, with Zubimendi identified as the man to do it. Chelsea and Liverpool have also been spoken to about a potential winter move, though the report notes that Liverpool are considered unlikely to follow through, partly because their previous interest in Zubimendi was tied to a previous managerial era.
For Real Madrid specifically, the interest is well-established and deeply logical. The Merengues have long tracked Zubimendi’s development — this isn’t a sudden infatuation. The club missed out on Rodri when the Manchester City and Spain midfielder signed a new deal rather than move to the Bernabéu, and that left a clear gap in Carlo Ancelotti’s (or his successor’s) midfield blueprint. Since Toni Kroos retired, Real Madrid have been searching for a player who can dictate tempo, recycle possession intelligently, and provide a platform for the more dynamic players around him. Zubimendi fits that profile almost perfectly — he’s a natural organiser with excellent passing range and the defensive discipline to screen the back line.
Crucially, the TEAMtalk report also references separate recent reports suggesting that Zubimendi himself wants to make the move to the Santiago Bernabéu. That personal ambition could prove to be the decisive factor if Arsenal are willing to do business and negotiations get serious in January.
What It Means for Madrid — and What Comes Next
From a squad-building perspective, landing Zubimendi in January would address one of Real Madrid’s most persistent needs. The midfield, historically one of the club’s greatest strengths, has been in a period of transition. Jude Bellingham provides dynamism and goals from deep, but a true holding midfielder — someone whose primary job is to protect, to distribute, and to give structure — has been an area of concern. Zubimendi would slot in and immediately provide that.
The competition from Barcelona and Atletico complicates things, as it always does in La Liga’s transfer corridors. Both clubs will push hard, and the financial landscape across Spanish football means no deal is straightforward. But Real Madrid’s reported long-standing relationship with the player, combined with Zubimendi’s own apparent preference for the Bernabéu, gives Los Blancos a meaningful edge.
January windows are notoriously tricky — deals collapse, clubs dig in on valuations, and the compressed timeline creates its own chaos. But if Zubimendi’s desire to leave Arsenal is genuine, and if Real Madrid push with intent, this is exactly the kind of transfer that could define the second half of the season. For Madridistas watching a midfield that has at times lacked control and composure, this would be very welcome news indeed. Watch this space.
Real Madrid baulk at €70-80m price tag for Pedro Porro · More Transfer news
For official club updates, visit Real Madrid’s official website.