Álex Baena, an Atlético Madrid and Spain playmaker, has said he would love Arsenal’s Martín Zubimendi to return to La Liga and join him in Madrid as transfer links emerge around the player.
Baena welcomes a Madrid move
Baena was asked by Cadena Ser about the prospect of teaming up with his Spain compatriot at Atlético Madrid. The former Villarreal star said: “I would love for him to come. He is the second-best defensive midfielder in the world after Rodri. I hope he can come. He would be a great addition to the team and the dressing room.”
Zubimendi’s Arsenal spell
Zubimendi remained loyal to boyhood club Real Sociedad for a long time before leaving San Sebastián for Mikel Arteta’s north London project. Arsenal signed him to mitigate the departures of Jorginho and Thomas Partey from their midfield.
Midway through his first season at Emirates Stadium, Zubimendi was regarded as one of the signings of the 2025 summer transfer window. He scored the first brace of his senior career in a 3–0 win over Nottingham Forest in September 2025. Arteta said: “Martín is bringing such a presence, composure and understanding of the game that makes the team flow and play better.”
Zubimendi made 57 appearances across all competitions in his first season at Arsenal. Arsenal claimed their first league title in 22 years in that season.
Reduced minutes this season
Zubimendi’s role was reduced down the stretch of his first season at Arsenal. At the start of Arsenal’s title defense, it became even harder for him to work his way back into Arteta’s plans. After Arsenal signed Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle United in the summer, Zubimendi was limited to three Premier League starts, two of them in the Carabao Cup.
He has played just 100 Premier League minutes across seven appearances and has seemingly slipped to fourth in Arsenal’s midfield depth chart, also behind Myles Lewis-Skelly. Arteta insisted that he was “very important” and said misfortune involving ankle and nose injuries had contributed to his lack of minutes.
Atlético’s midfield picture
Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid lost back-to-back home games to Bayern Munich and Barcelona in the week before the international break. The team slipped to third in La Liga. Atlético Madrid are five points off the back-to-back champions at the summit.
Spanish outlets such as SPORT have suggested that Zubimendi could be a winter target for Atlético Madrid. The Standard reports that Arsenal are not actively looking to sell him this summer but could be persuaded for the right price. Atlético will soon need to consider a world without midfield stalwart Koke and decide whether its current midfield options are enough to compensate for his absence.
