Midfield deal in doubt as Arsenal target keeps options open | OneFootball

Zubimendi Cools Arsenal Transfer Talk with Summer Uncertainty

Longstanding interest meets firm resistance

Arsenal’s pursuit of Martin Zubimendi has, for some time, felt inevitable. The midfielder, long admired by Mikel Arteta and the club’s recruitment team, seemed destined to arrive in North London. His €60 million (£50.5m) release clause was no secret. Nor was Arsenal’s desire to find a composed, tactically astute presence at the base of midfield — someone capable of complementing Declan Rice and orchestrating from deep.

But Zubimendi, once again, has cast doubt over the notion that his future lies away from San Sebastian. Speaking to Radio Nacional de España, the 26-year-old cooled speculation linking him to a summer switch to the Emirates.

Photo: IMAGO

“Of course there are options,” he said when asked if he could remain at Real Sociedad. “But it’s true that it seems like it’s going to be a different, long summer, and I don’t know how it will end. I don’t think thinking about it right now is my priority. I’m here with the national team, which I think is already quite demanding, and if I have to say something, then I will.”

Public gestures contradict transfer reports

Last week, several reports claimed that Zubimendi was undergoing a medical with Arsenal — a step typically symbolic of a deal all but done. But if the midfielder’s social media is any indication, reality tells a different story. Instead of arriving at London Colney, Zubimendi shared images of himself relaxing on a beach in San Sebastian.

“It’s an example of what surrounds football,” he reflected. “Many times I wake up in the morning and read things that I didn’t know I had done. That was a clear example. It’s true that I don’t take it very seriously, but anyway, I uploaded those photos to emphasise a little that it wasn’t exactly the reality that was happening.”

Photo IMAGO

Madrid whispers and Xabi Alonso’s influence

Inevitably, Zubimendi was also quizzed about rumours linking him to Real Madrid, where he could potentially reunite with Xabi Alonso. The two shared a significant year at Real Sociedad B, and Alonso has since emerged as one of the most sought-after managerial prospects in Europe.

“I have always said that he was my idol and that for me it was lucky that he was able to coach me in the reserve team in a very important year,” Zubimendi explained. “The following year I was already in the first team and, well, I don’t like to talk about those hypotheses, I prefer to talk about the present, because I also think that it would be disrespectful to answer from the national team training camp and before facing such an important competition.”

Photo: IMAGO

Patience the only certainty

For Arsenal, Zubimendi’s words offer both frustration and clarity. There is still admiration. There may even still be intent. But there is no commitment, not yet, and perhaps not at all. The midfielder remains focused on Spain’s Euro 2024 campaign and has clearly pushed club decisions into the background.

And so, a familiar summer narrative emerges. Arsenal must wait. And, crucially, they must consider whether to persist with Zubimendi or pivot to alternatives.

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If you’re an Arsenal supporter, there’s something unnerving about this kind of ambiguity. You have been here before — the long, drawn-out pursuits, the hopes pinned to a player who, while clearly talented, seems emotionally tethered elsewhere.

Zubimendi is a brilliant footballer, no question. Composed under pressure, tactically intelligent, and blessed with the kind of positional awareness that doesn’t show up on stat sheets but wins matches. But if he’s not certain — if he’s still posting beach photos in response to medical reports and talking wistfully about Xabi Alonso — then should Arsenal be investing £50 million in him?

There’s no blame here. Loyalty to Real Sociedad is admirable. His reluctance to speak out during a major tournament is understandable. But Arsenal are not in a position to chase shadows. The midfield needs strengthening now, not at the end of a summer filled with “maybes”.

If Zubimendi truly wants to join, brilliant. But if he needs convincing, maybe the Gunners should be looking at players who are already convinced. After all, Mikel Arteta’s side are no longer a project — they’re a title-challenging reality.