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There could be another twist in Martin Zubimendi saga after Arsenal agreed deal to sign midfielder

Charles Jones

Thu 6 February 2025 9:15, UK

Arsenal didn’t make a single signing in the January transfer window, but it looked as though they had secured a top target for the summer.

Indeed, during January it was reported that ♑Arsenal had agreed a deal to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad.

Zubimendi was a key target for Liverpool last summer, but it looked as though Arsenal𓂃 had stolen a march and secured the player’s signature.

ಌHowever, as anyone who has followed Zubimendi’s situation in recent years will know, it’s never that straightforward.

Indeed, deals involving Martin Zubimendi🌺 have been on and off again more times than a light switch.

🙈Despite some confident reporting surrounding Zubimendi and Arsenal as of late, it does look as though there could be another twist in this tale.

Real Madrid want Martin Zubimendi

ꦆAccording to , there are now increasing discussions around Real Madrid about signing Martin Zubimendi in the summer.

🐼The Athletic note that Arsenal have done a lot of groundwork on this deal, but Madrid could well be in for the Spain international at some point.

🔯Zubimendi has, so far in his career, opted to stay with his boyhood club, close to home, and he may well be more tempted to move just down the road to Madrid rather than flying across Europe to join a team like Arsenal.

😼Culturally, this is a move that makes a lot more sense.

Real Madrid’s transfer hijacks

ဣMadrid want Zubimendi, and given Los Blancos’ history of getting their top targets, you wouldn’t back against Carlo Ancelotti’s side getting this deal done.

ꦑThat would certainly be a spanner in the works for Arsenal, but it wouldn’t be the first time that Real Madrid have caused problems for a Premier League side in this regard.

♈Indeed, Madrid have a history of pinching key targets from Premier League clubs.

Jude Bellingham was linked with Liverpool for years before Madrid swooped in, meanwhile Liverpool wanted Aurelian Tchouameni too before he moved to the Bernabeu.

Federico Valverde nearly joined Arsenal, but he ended up in Madrid instead, while Arsenal wanted Arda Guler before he joined Real Madrid.

⛦The Spanish giants are arguably the biggest team in world football, and more often than not, what Florentino Perez wants, Florentino Perez gets.

♊Don’t be surprised if Arsenal suffer yet more disappointment in their long-running pursuit of Martin Zubimendi.