Real Madrid Could Consider Signing Zubimendi in January After He Becomes a Substitute at Arsenal

According to reports from Diario Sport, Real Madrid have begun planning their January transfer moves to address their lack of creativity in midfield, with Arsenal midfielder Zubimendi emerging as a potential target.

Real Madrid are now paying a heavy price for letting Rodri leave in the past. While their top league rival has been strengthened by the presence of this elite player, Los Blancos' midfield has struggled, something that was exposed again in their recent match against Inter Milan. The team lacks a central midfielder capable of reaching the level of that Barcelona player.

Mourinho's team have been unable to control the rhythm of matches. Their attacking approach relies on quick transitions, allowing Vinicius, Mbappe or Bellingham to finish moves in the final third. However, opponents are able to win back possession and eventually create scoring chances, with Courtois repeatedly rescuing the team.

Real Madrid were previously more inclined to focus on a more attack-minded player, such as Bernardo Silva, who was rejected by Barcelona, while continuing to rely on Tchouameni, Valverde and Camavinga as midfield organizers, despite their lack of Rodri's qualities. Creativity remains an unfinished task for Mourinho's team. Guler or Arnold can serve as emergency solutions, but these options are far from what that Barcelona player can provide.

Therefore, Los Blancos have already begun taking action for the winter transfer market. In this window, they could address their weakness through a name that had already emerged during the summer window: Zubimendi, which could represent a market opportunity.

Reports from England have pointed out this possibility because the Basque midfielder has gradually lost his starting position at Arsenal. He has come off the bench in all five of the Gunners' competitive matches this season. Particularly notable was the Champions League match against Napoli, where he remained on the bench and played only eight minutes.

Zubimendi has been reduced to a substitute role since the end of last season. For example, in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, he was also on the bench and did not enter until extra time. Although he has consistently shown good quality, Arteta has preferred other players in that position, which may be affecting his mood.

Real Madrid rate him highly and also value his performances for the Spanish national team. When Rodri suffered a serious injury, Zubimendi took over the midfield role for La Roja. He also performed in key moments, such as the second half of the 2024 European Championship final and extra time of the 2026 World Cup. He is a reliable player, and although Real Madrid hesitated in the summer, they may now take this step.

Arsenal paid 70 million euros for him last season and signed him until 2030. His current market value is also around that figure. Arsenal would recover their investment, and the fee would not be astronomical for Real Madrid. However, Zubimendi has other suitors, such as Chelsea coached by Alonso. Alonso had previously considered him as part of Real Madrid's squad-building plans, but Florentino Perez did not sign him.

In fact, after Kroos retired and Modric moved to AC Milan, Real Madrid have not completed the renewal of their midfield. The two players once provided the team with refined attacking organization, a quality that has now been lost. Mourinho is trying to make the team more resilient and compensate for midfield shortcomings through counterattacks using the speed of his attacking stars. This approach may not be enough for them to compete directly with Barcelona.