Arsenal 'open the door' for Real Madrid to sign Martin Zubimendi
Arsenal appear to have softened their stance on Martin Zubimendi's future, with a report suggesting Mikel Arteta is now more open to letting the midfielder leave in the next transfer window amid interest from Real Madrid.
Zubimendi arrived at the club last summer and was a regular starter as Arsenal won the Premier League title, but his role has diminished dramatically this season. According to Football365, Arsenal have opened the door to selling him, with Arteta reportedly more receptive to a departure than he was over the summer, when the club rejected interest in the Spaniard.
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What changed for Zubimendi
The dip in form and opportunity is believed to trace back to the World Cup, where Zubimendi did not feature as Spain were crowned world champions. He is said to have expected his situation to improve on returning to north London, but instead found himself further down the pecking order after Arsenal signed Bruno Guimaraes in the summer.
Even with Guimaraes among the substitutes, Zubimendi has struggled to force his way into Arteta's plans, leaving his long term future at the club in serious doubt.
Real Madrid circling
Real Madrid's interest is said to add a fresh dimension to the situation, offering Zubimendi the possibility of a new start elsewhere if he continues to be frozen out in north London. His quality has never been in question, and a move to the Bernabeu would represent a significant switch for a player who only joined Arsenal a year ago.
With Arsenal's midfield options now deep, including Guimaraes, the club may feel comfortable sanctioning a sale in January and using any funds raised to strengthen elsewhere, rather than needing to replace Zubimendi directly.
Nothing is yet confirmed, and the coming weeks are expected to determine whether any deal can actually be struck. For now, Arsenal's focus remains on the Premier League title race, with Zubimendi's situation one to monitor as the January window approaches.
