Xabi Alonso wanted Real Madrid to sign Martin Zubimendi last summer but the La Liga giants' higher-ups chose not to swoop for the Spaniard. Arsenal instead secured his signature with the 27-year-old joining Mikel Arteta's side from Real Sociedad in a €65 million deal.
Zubimendi has been a key man for Arteta and the Gunners who look likely to win the Premier League title. He has made 33 appearances across competitions, scoring five goals and providing three assists.
Madrid have encountered issues in midfield throughout the season and could have benefitted from having a player of Zubimendi's profile. But the higher-ups didn't listen to Alonso and that was the first sign of a lack of cohesion between the former manager and the board and eventually led to a seperation seven months later.
Zubimendi on possible Real Madrid move
Zubimendi has responded to speculation that he was on Alonso's radar by insisting he wouldn't have been the missing link. He told Cadena SER:
“I don’t think so,. Madrid has more than enough players to do well. No way, no way.”
These comments might frustrate Alonso given he was clearly a fan of the Spanish midfielder. It also reaffirms Madrid's belief that they had a squad and midfield more than capable of competing for major trophies this season.
But a topsy-turvy campaign has coincided with inconsistent form from Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni. The French pair haven't been at their best, much like Jude Bellingham, whose future has been a hot topic of discussion with reports claiming that he needs to improve or risks the club considering a sale.
Zubimendi would undoubtedly been an excellent acquistion given he has proven La Liga experience and is a versatile midfielder. The price that Arsenal paid for his signature wasn't exactly expensive and while he gave an honest response he hasn't been witness to the clear issues taking hold at the Estadio Bernabeu.
Real Madrid must sign a world class midfielder
The fact that Alonso and now Alvaro Arbeloa have opted to use midfielders as makeshift full-backs speaks volumes of the need for a rebuild this summer. It could be argued that Camavinga's best performance this season came at left-back in a 6-1 win over AS Monaco.
Federico Valverde also performs well at right-back and was impressive in a 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid in the Supercopa de Espana semi-final. An injury crisis in the center of defense has led to Tchaoumeni filling in on occasion.
Madrid need a world class midfielder who can really put the aforementioned trio and Bellingham under pressure. That doesn't look likely though given the club view the likes of PSG's Vitinha and Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez as "impossible" deals due to finances.