The wait goes on for Martin Zubimendi to become an Arsenal player. Talk over a switch to the Emirates Stadium has been in the headlines for months now and Arsenal fans are waiting patiently for the club to confirm his arrival in the capital.
The 26-year-old remains a Real Sociedad player for the time being, though, but Mikel Arteta, Andrea Berta and Arsenal are expected to get their man. Zubimendi has been linked with Real Madrid recently, with speculation only strengthened by Xabi Alonso, the player's idol, taking on the hotseat at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Speaking ahead of Spain's UEFA Nations League encounter against France on Thursday evening, Zubimendi was asked about his future this summer amid interest from clubs.
"Of course there are options, but it's true that it looks like it's going to be a different, long summer, and I don't know how it's going to end," he said, as reported by Spanish publication AS. "Right now, thinking about it isn't my priority. I'm here with the national team, which is already quite demanding, and if I have to say something, then I will."
When pushed on the possibility of Alonso making a move for him, Zubimendi said: "I've always said that he was my idol and that for me it was a stroke of luck that he was able to coach me in the reserve team in a very important year.
"I don’t like to talk about those hypotheses, I like to talk about the present. I think it would be disrespectful to answer that question while I’m in the national team, and facing such an important competition."
Spain's game against France at the MHP Arena in Stuttgart, Germany on Thursday night will give Arsenal fans an opportunity to get a glimpse of just what Zubimendi can bring to their midfield from August, providing of course that he does indeed join Arteta's side. The player from the Basque Country has been a regular in Luis de la Fuente's Spain team over the course of the 2024/25 season following Rodri's ACL injury that limited him to only four Manchester City appearances in the campaign.
As Rodri is not part of the Spain squad for the UEFA Nations League after only just returning to action in the penultimate game of the term, Zubimendi will take his place at the heart of Spain's midfield. He will have quite a task on his hands coming up against a talented France side but he has demonstrated on countless occasions that he is an incredible player.
If Spain are to prevail against France then Zubimendi and Co. will face Portugal in Sunday's UEFA Nations League final at the Allianz Arena in Munich. If not, they will face Germany a day earlier in the third-place match.
A win on Sunday and it will see Zubimendi collect another winner's medal after helping Spain to Euro 2024 glory last summer. Zubimendi getting his hands on another trophy will hopefully be a sign of things to come at Arsenal in the 2025/26 season.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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