MartÃn Zubimendi has made his feelings clear. Less than a year after joining Arsenal from Real Sociedad for £61 million, the Spanish midfielder has brushed off persistent links to Real Madrid and said he has no intention of going anywhere. He is happy. He is settled. And he has silverware to chase.
There was a time when Real Madrid seemed inevitable in this story. Zubimendi is Spanish, he is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, and Madrid have been scouring the market for exactly that profile for years. When Arsenal beat them to his signature last summer, many assumed it was only a matter of time before Madrid came back in.
Zubimendi is not interested in entertaining that narrative. Speaking to Spanish media, he was direct: "I don't think Real Madrid need me. They have more than enough players." When pushed further on his own situation, he was just as straightforward. He is focused on what Arsenal are building, and right now that includes a Champions League semi-final and a title race that is still very much alive.
Why He Chose Arsenal Over Madrid
Zubimendi has spoken previously about what drew him to Arsenal. He referenced Mikel Arteta's intensity and tactical detail — calling the Gunners' manager "obsessive" in the best possible sense. For a player who thinks deeply about the game and wants to be coached at the highest level, Arsenal's project was genuinely compelling.
Real Madrid were interested during the same transfer window. Arsenal won that race by convincing Zubimendi that Arteta's system was the right environment for his development, that the Premier League was a challenge worth embracing, and that the club were genuinely building toward something significant. He said yes, and he has not looked back.
What He Has Brought to the Emirates
Zubimendi arrived with a reputation as one of Europe's most composed and technically precise holding midfielders. At Arsenal, he has delivered on that billing. His ability to screen the defence, recycle possession under pressure, and dictate tempo from deep has given Arteta's side a solidity that was sometimes missing in previous campaigns.
The Champions League run — and the prospect of a semi-final against some of the continent's elite — is exactly the stage he moved to London to perform on. At Real Sociedad, those nights were rare. At Arsenal, they are becoming routine.
Madrid Will Have to Look Elsewhere
Real Madrid, meanwhile, continue to search for their own answer in the holding midfield role. With their pursuit of Zubimendi closed off last summer and the player now firmly settled in north London, they pivoted to other targets. Reports have linked them with a renewed push for Rodri, Manchester City's world-class midfielder who is recovering from a long-term injury — though that deal comes with its own complications.
For Arsenal, Zubimendi's contentment is exactly the kind of news they want heading into the final stretch of the season. A fully committed, form player in one of the most important positions on the pitch is a genuine advantage. And unlike the Konaté situation unfolding at Liverpool, there is no contract drama here — just a player who knows where he wants to be.
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