✍️ OFFICIAL Martin Zubimendi

[Topside]

Zubimendi obviously a lot of ground work has/was already done on his potential signing between Arteta and club,agent, player.

He's knows Ødegaard from playing with him previously but I've no doubt the other Mikel at the club has certainly helped by telling him about the club, what to expect etc.

 

[Jasinho]

Zubimendi obviously a lot of ground work has/was already done on his potential signing between Arteta and club,agent, player.

He's knows Ødegaard from playing with him previously but I've no doubt the other Mikel at the club has certainly helped by telling him about the club, what to expect etc.

We've basically just assembled Sociedad's midfield from 5 years ago.

 

[Amsterdam Gooner 88]

But honestly, it's actually why you shouldn't have been baited by the Real Madrid/Marca reports.

The idea that, this player, who plays in their league, plays for their national team, who they'd be more aware of, whose agents and handlers and club they'd have easier access to, and who their new manager, who has been planning on being their coach for the last year, loves openly, but only now just realised as a collective that they should be in to try and buy him?

It requires a level of disbelief to imagine that it was only in the last week or two that they figured out collectively that Zubimendi was good and that he'd be perfect for Xabi.

The more believable version of this story is, they probably have had several conversations with Xabi in the last 6-12 months as they've been setting things up for him to take over, have already discussed Zubimanedi (amongst other), probably have tried, at least in January, if not earlier, to feel things out, and were either told he doesn't want to stay in Spain, or has already agreed to join us.

it's possible that your believable version of the story is true. but i doubt xabi alonso has been having conversations with zubimendi about a transfer to real madrid the past 6-12 months.

he's been the manager of bayer leverkusen during that period and the news only came out a month ago that he would be leaving leverkusen at the end of the season. i don't believe alonso is doing potential transfers, next to his demanding fulltime job, for a club he doesn't even know if he will be managing or not next season. keep in mind ancelotti always said that he wanted to stay at real madrid for as long possible. arsenal eliminated madrid in the quarterfinals and that more or less sealed ancelotti's fate (less than 2 months ago) i believe ancelotti could easily have stayed another season if he had won the champions league. which is never a unrealistic scenario given the history of real madrid in the tournament.

if xabi alonso knew he was going to be the new manager at real madrid the next season a long time beforehand i would agree with your story. but nothing seems to indicate that.

i don't doubt madrid have been scouting zubimendi and that they've been in contact with his agents. but to me it seems like they haven't been as concrete for him as arsenal has been until maybe recently. i would say the reason why i got baited by marca yesterday was pretty understandable. it's a realistic scenario to me that xabi alonso, who only got appointed recently, gave the green lights for his transfer targets, zubimendi being one of them. real madrid and xabi started pushing, zubimendi started having some doubts (has been wishy washy in the past before) pretty realistic and believable scenario imo

 

[MikeVinna]

It’s also likely Zubi fancies his chances much more at Arsenal regarding his competition for a starting spot. Rice is clearly preferred at 8 so at most he’ll have one of Partey/Jorginho to compete with. And if both of those are let go he’ll be a guaranteed starter with MLS/Rice backing him up if need be.

They haven’t really kicked on but Camavinga and Tchouameni are quality players in his position and they’re still young.

 

[BodyOderggard]

It’s also likely Zubi fancies his chances much more at Arsenal regarding his competition for a starting spot. Rice is clearly preferred at 8 so at most he’ll have one of Partey/Jorginho to compete with. And if both of those are let go he’ll be a guaranteed starter with MLS/Rice backing him up if need be.

They haven’t really kicked on but Camavinga and Tchouameni are quality players in his position and they’re still young.

Jorginho already ****ed off to Brazil but I think Thomas stays unless Barca can increase his wages.

 

[Keplaz]

Wasn't this the same account that recently tweeted about the Marca Madrid call changed everything BS? Talk about flip flop

What do you call a Frenchman wearing sandals?

 

[BigPoppaPump]

It’s also likely Zubi fancies his chances much more at Arsenal regarding his competition for a starting spot. Rice is clearly preferred at 8 so at most he’ll have one of Partey/Jorginho to compete with. And if both of those are let go he’ll be a guaranteed starter with MLS/Rice backing him up if need be.

They haven’t really kicked on but Camavinga and Tchouameni are quality players in his position and they’re still young.

Madrid will struggle to replace Kroos and Modric, I doubt they'll be as dominant in the Champions League without those two. However Camavinga is the closest to be able to do what they did but he's still so young, Kroos and Modric went to Madrid in their prime.

 

[Kuroske]

It’s also likely Zubi fancies his chances much more at Arsenal regarding his competition for a starting spot. Rice is clearly preferred at 8 so at most he’ll have one of Partey/Jorginho to compete with. And if both of those are let go he’ll be a guaranteed starter with MLS/Rice backing him up if need be.

They haven’t really kicked on but Camavinga and Tchouameni are quality players in his position and they’re still young.

Playing for Madrid comes with huge pressure to preform. Even Mbappe got criticized when he needed time to adjust to the league. You are expected to win the league and CL. Missing one of those and your season is a fail. There is a reason why Zubimendi stayed that long at Sociadad and chooses carefully which club to join.

 

[ArsenesCoatMaker]

Madrid will struggle to replace Kroos and Modric, I doubt they'll be as dominant in the Champions League without those two. However Camavinga is the closest to be able to do what they did but he's still so young, Kroos and Modric went to Madrid in their prime.

Is anyone either close to either in world football?

 

[bingobob]

Playing for Madrid comes with huge pressure to preform. Even Mbappe got criticized when he needed time to adjust to the league. You are expected to win the league and CL. Missing one of those and your season is a fail. There is a reason why Zubimendi stayed that long at Sociadad and chooses carefully which club to join.

Basically, if I'm reading correctly, you're saying Zubimendi is a bottle merchant who choose us over Madrid because he might not be able to handle the expectations that not winning the league or CL is a failure. That's not reassuring in the slightest. You want players who want the pressure and thrive under it.

 

[kraphtous]

Admittedly don‘t watch the Spanish League at all, but I‘m getting Dani Ceballos vibes from him.

 

[Kuroske]

Basically, if I'm reading correctly, you're saying Zubimendi is a bottle merchant who choose us over Madrid because he might not be able to handle the expectations that not winning the league or CL is a failure. That's not reassuring in the slightest. You want players who want the pressure and thrive under it.

You can't compare Real or Bayern with Arsenal. What I mean is playing for Real or Bayern gives a certain pressure. They are treated like superstars. Not everyone have that personality to handle that.

 

[Kuroske]

Is anyone either close to either in world football?

FdJ

 

[Bloodbather]

Admittedly don‘t watch the Spanish League at all, but I‘m getting Dani Ceballos vibes from him.

You didn't have to say this, the second part of the post already makes it clear.

 

[MikeVinna]

Admittedly don‘t watch the Spanish League at all, but I‘m getting Dani Ceballos vibes from him.

He’s a bit better than Ceballos but I see what you mean stylistically. Does release the ball a lot faster.

He’s definitely not better than Partey(yet) which is what I think most fans are hoping for..

 

[lomekian]

Usual overcooked online tactico stuff, but makes points many of us have sort of raised indiviudally

 

[DanDare]

Usual overcooked online tactico stuff, but makes points many of us have sort of raised indiviudally

Don't have time to watch. Is the general point he'll allow Ødegaard to stop dropping deep to receive the ball, reducing his workload, allowing him to contribute more in final third and stop trying to be a pressing forward, attacking mid and centre mid all game?

 

[A_M Iniesta]

I’m confident heading into all the away top 6 fixtures (midfield battles) with Zubi in our mid, hope he has an impactful career here

 

[lomekian]

Don't have time to watch. Is the general point he'll allow Ødegaard to stop dropping deep to receive the ball, reducing his workload, allowing him to contribute more in final third and stop trying to be a pressing forward, attacking mid and centre mid all game?

Largely, but also will move the ball quicker, is happy to play switch passes and through balls as well a line breakers, and is happy to drop into LB to rotate with MLS/Cala if needed to move teams around

 

[KrissKringle]

If Partey does leave, this guy isn't going to fill that defensive gap, so we'll be left wanting again.