Spanish midfielder explains why he chose Premier League over Real Madrid – ‘Wanted a detail-oriented coach’ | OneFootball

During the summer transfer window, Real Madrid considered several midfield options, with Martin Zubimendi among them.

At the time, the Spanish international, then at Real Sociedad, was seen as a potential successor to Luka Modric.

However, concerns over his high transfer fee and internal discussions led the club to decide not to sign a new midfielder, leaving Zubimendi available for other suitors.

The 26-year-old ultimately moved to Arsenal for a fee of around €65 million and has started the season strongly, scoring two goals in 10 matches, already matching his total from last season.

In a recent interview with AS, Zubimendi reflected on the decision-making process and his choice to join the Premier League side.

Choosing Arsenal over Real Madrid?

When asked why he opted for Arsenal despite interest from Madrid, Zubimendi said,

“I don’t know, it’s just a feeling. Once I decided to leave Real, Arsenal was a team that, from what I had seen, suited me well, especially in terms of their style of play.

“I also wanted a very detail-oriented coach, and in (Mikel) Arteta, as soon as I spoke to him, I found that.

Martin Zubimendi joined Arsenal in the summer. (Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images)

“There was a very young team (at Arsenal), with a lot of passion, very close-knit, eager to win, and even though they haven’t been able to do so, that makes them even more eager.”

When asked if choosing Arsenal over Real Madrid was difficult, given that Xabi Alonso, his idol, had just taken charge at Madrid, he responded,

“I can’t talk about other teams. Arsenal was the one I had decided on, and I went all out for it.”

Fitting in at Arsenal

Zubimendi was also asked about his role at both clubs and whether he felt like the “missing piece” for either.

He admitted the pressure of joining top clubs and emphasised the quality around him. “Ugh… I don’t know, I don’t know. We’re talking about very big clubs.

“To say that Madrid was missing a piece like me is a lot to say because all the players they have are spectacular. And at Arsenal, it’s more of the same,” he concluded.

With a strong start to his Arsenal career, Zubimendi has already justified the club’s investment while maintaining humility about comparisons to Real Madrid.