Real Madrid eye Zubimendi as Arsenal midfielder slips to fourth-choice in midfield

Martin Zubimendi’s future at Arsenal is under serious scrutiny after Spanish radio journalist Javier Herraez stated he ‘wouldn’t close any door’ on the midfielder making a move to Real Madrid, with the 27-year-old having fallen to fourth choice in Mikel Arteta’s central midfield.

Zubimendi arrived at Arsenal last summer as a high-profile replacement for Jorginho, having resisted interest from Manchester City and Liverpool to join the Gunners after six years and more than 200 appearances for his hometown club Real Sociedad. He impressed alongside Declan Rice in the first half of last season, but a dip in form in the second half of the campaign opened the door for academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly, who went on to start the majority of the run-in and Arsenal’s Champions League final.

The teenager has retained his place into the current season, and the arrival of Bruno Guimarães over the summer has pushed Zubimendi further down the pecking order. The Brazilian has already scored twice in the Premier League from limited appearances and completed a full 90 minutes in Arsenal’s recent Champions League victory over Lille.

Real Madrid’s interest in Zubimendi dates back to before Arsenal confirmed his signing, and according to Sport Witness — relaying comments from Cadena SER’s Herraez via Defensa Central — that interest has not faded. ‘Real Madrid aren’t doing well right now and they’re worried about how the team is playing,’ Herraez said. ‘I don’t think they’ll go for him now, but I wouldn’t rule anything out, especially in football: above all, in that position.’

Los Blancos have struggled to replace the midfield control provided by Toni Kroos since the German’s retirement at 34, and missed out on Rodri to Barcelona over the summer, leaving a clear need in that area of the pitch.

Despite the speculation, Zubimendi’s situation at Arsenal may not be as terminal as it appears. An injury to Piero Hincapié has already drawn Lewis-Skelly back into a defensive role, and with Arteta’s side competing across four competitions, the Spanish international is likely to see his minutes increase as the season progresses. Nevertheless, FourFourTwo understands Zubimendi is considered one of the more probable departures in the summer of 2026, given the expectations around his role when he signed and the prospect of spending an extended period as a rotation option.