José Mourinho Targets Martín Zubimendi for Real Madrid

José Mourinho has set his sights on Arsenal midfielder Martín Zubimendi and, crucially, has told Real Madrid to move for him in this transfer window.

The Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo reports that the Portuguese coach has “given the green light” for Los Blancos to go after the 27-year-old, whose name has re-emerged on the Bernabéu agenda after Rodri rejected a switch to Madrid.

Zubimendi’s story with Real Madrid is already a near-miss. He was strongly linked with the club last summer, just as Xabi Alonso arrived, only for the deal to fizzle out and the midfielder to head to Arsenal instead. One year on, his situation in north London has shifted. His status in the squad has dropped, and his representatives are now assessing options and sounding out a possible exit.

That’s where Madrid step back in.

Mourinho is pushing for a creative midfielder and has approved Zubimendi as a target. The need is clear; the coach wants another organiser in the middle of the pitch, someone to dictate tempo and connect the lines. With Rodri off the table, Zubimendi is once again viewed as a realistic, high-level solution.

But there are obstacles. Big ones.

Arsenal are open to letting him leave, but only on their terms. They paid €65 million to bring him in last year, and any proposal from Madrid will have to beat that figure. For a player who no longer holds the same weight in Mikel Arteta’s plans, the London club still intend to protect their investment and, if possible, turn a profit.

Then comes the other, even more decisive condition from Madrid’s side: someone has to go. The hierarchy at the Bernabéu have already made it clear there will be no more signings unless a current squad member departs. Any move for Zubimendi depends not just on Arsenal’s price, but on Madrid creating room in both the squad and the wage bill.

So Mourinho waits, having made his stance clear. Zubimendi’s camp waits, studying the market. Arsenal wait, knowing the clock and the fee are in their favour.

If one domino falls, the rest could follow quickly.