Real Madrid want Martín Zubimendi, Arsenal want to keep him, and the reported asking price is €90 million. Fabrizio Romano has also pushed back on the idea that Zubimendi is tied to Bruno Guimaraes' move to Arsenal, saying there is no connection between the two.

Arsenal's stance on Zubimendi

Romano said Zubimendi is “absolutely highly rated and respected at Arsenal” and added that “there is no connection at all” to Bruno Guimaraes. The report around him is not a transfer completion story, it is a warning that Arsenal are not treating him as a player to cash in on.

Zubimendi has a 6.6 average rating across his last five Arsenal appearances, steady enough to keep his status intact even if it does not scream headline form. Arsenal will not sell him for less than €90 million.

Real Madrid and Chelsea in the picture

Mundo Deportivo says Real Madrid can try again, but they would face two obstacles, the fee and Chelsea. The report adds that Xabi Alonso was the one who wanted Zubimendi for Real Madrid a year ago, and now he is pushing for him at Chelsea.

That is where the story becomes more about market pressure than certainty. Real Madrid are not being linked to a player who is unavailable on sporting terms, they are being linked to one whose price is already framed as a problem. Chelsea are part of that pressure too, which makes the chase harder than a simple one-club pursuit.

Arsenal's own midfield business has only sharpened the discussion. They have paid £75 million for Bruno Guimaraes, who is set to start alongside Declan Rice in midfield, and Guimaraes already has 4 assists in 5 appearances. He is rated 7.11 across the 2026 season aggregate, which explains why the move is being sold as an upgrade in one part of the squad without needing Zubimendi to be moved on.

The next public marker will come from whether the noise around Madrid and Chelsea grows louder, but the current line is plain enough: Arsenal are not selling Zubimendi for less than €90 million, and Romano says there is no Bruno Guimaraes replacement angle to read into the deal.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →