The saga surrounding the Real Sociedad midfielder is still not over. In recent weeks, Real Madrid have repeatedly been linked with an attempt to hijack Arsenal’s deal to sign Martin Zubimendi.
The Gunners made significant progress in negotiations with the 26-year-old this winter. All that football media have continuously reported that the Euro 2024 winner will be an Arsenal player next season.
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The Premier League giants have agreed to pay his €60 million buyout clause, and only a public announcement of the transfer remains. Despite this, the persistent rumours linking him to Real Madrid will not go away.
COPE has now once again added fuel to the fire around the Zubimendi speculation by claiming that the midfielder is “waiting for a call” from Real Madrid and that he has yet to make a final decision on his future.
Is Zubimendi waiting for Real Madrid?
It is known that the new Los Blancos coach Xabi Alonso is a big admirer of Zubimendi. Even before it was clear that he would take over from Carlo Ancelotti in the summer, reports suggested that he would chase a transfer for the Real Sociedad star if he ever got the Real Madrid job.
Several Spanish media claim Zubimendi is hesitant to give Arsenal their final go-ahead because he wants to see how Real Madrid continue their search for a new midfielder to replace Luka Modrić.
Nico Paz is expected to be brought back from Como, but Alonso reportedly wants further reinforcements in midfield, and Zubimendi is unsurprisingly high on his wish list.
If Real Madrid decide to “go all in” for the Basque player, he will “go to the Spanish capital,” it is claimed. This is despite the fact that “everything points towards” a transfer to Arsenal.
Fabrizio Romano has previously questioned whether Zubimendi even wants to move to another La Liga club, given his deep connection to his childhood club Real Sociedad.
It has taken a huge effort from Arsenal to convince him to leave his hometown – they have been chasing him for several years – and he even turned down a move to Liverpool last summer. Therefore, it is unlikely that he will play against Real Sociedad on a routine basis.
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