Real Madrid's Midfield Dilemma: Missing Rodri and Targeting Zubimendi
Real Madrid are discovering what it costs to say no to Rodri.
They passed on the chance to sign him. Now, every big game is a reminder. The defeat to Inter Milan stripped everything back: José Mourinho’s midfield cannot control matches at the level the Barcelona man offers. Not even close.
A team that runs, but doesn’t rule
According to Sport, Mourinho’s Madrid side struggle to impose themselves. They live off quick transitions, waiting for the chaos to open up space for Vinícius, Mbappé and Bellingham in the final third. When it works, it looks devastating. When it doesn’t, the cracks in midfield are impossible to ignore.
Opponents have started to sense it. They win the ball back too easily, then turn those recoveries into chances. Inter did it. Others will copy. Thibaut Courtois has already had to bail Madrid out more than once, and the feeling lingers that all of this stems from one decision: they did not do everything possible to bring in Rodri.
Instead, the club leaned towards a more attacking profile. They preferred Bernardo Silva, a player Barcelona turned down. Madrid stayed with what they had: Tchouaméni, Valverde and Camavinga as the base to build from. All three are elite, all three bring energy and personality. None of them, though, organise a game like Rodri.
So the same problem keeps resurfacing. Madrid can break. They can finish. But building attacks, dictating rhythm and consistently creating chances remains the unfinished part of Mourinho’s project.
Arda Güler has been floated as a creative solution. Trent Alexander-Arnold, if used inside, could offer another makeshift answer. Both are intriguing ideas. Both fall short of what a true controller would bring.
Zubimendi, the winter opportunity
That is why Real Madrid have already started to work ahead of the winter transfer window. They know exactly what they’re missing and exactly where they need to spend. One name has moved back to the top of the list: Martín Zubimendi.
Madrid chased the Arsenal midfielder in the summer. Now, his situation in London may be opening a door.
In England, the predictions around his future are gathering pace. The reason is clear. Zubimendi’s role at Arsenal has shrunk. He has started all five of the Gunners’ official matches this season on the bench.
The loudest warning sign came in the Champions League clash with Napoli at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. A high-stakes night, a statement game. Zubimendi watched almost all of it from the sidelines and played just eight minutes.
This is not a sudden dip. His struggle for minutes stretches back to the end of last season. In the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, he sat out the full 90 minutes and only appeared in extra time.
When called upon, he has delivered. That part is not in doubt. Even so, Mikel Arteta continues to trust other options in his role. For a player who left Real Sociedad to become a cornerstone at the Emirates, that hierarchy is starting to weigh heavily.
Spain proof, Madrid interest
Real Madrid’s admiration for Zubimendi is no secret. His performances for Spain have only underlined their view. When Rodri suffered a serious injury, it was Zubimendi who stepped in to run the national team’s midfield.
He did not just fill a gap. He imposed himself in the biggest moments. Think of the second half of the Euro 2024 final. Think of extra time in the 2026 World Cup final. On the biggest stages, with the ball at his feet and the game on the line, he showed exactly the kind of calm and authority Madrid now lack.
Arsenal paid 70 million euros to sign him last season and tied him down until 2030. His current market value should be in a similar bracket. That fee would allow Arsenal to recoup their investment. From Madrid’s perspective, it is not a figure that would scare them off.
They will not be alone at the table. Chelsea are also in the race, driven by Xabi Alonso’s admiration. Alonso wanted Zubimendi when he was a candidate for the Real Madrid job, but Florentino Pérez chose a different path.
Now the equation is brutally simple. Madrid turned down Rodri and built a team that can sprint but cannot suffocate games. Zubimendi offers a second chance at that missing piece. The question is whether they are willing to pay the price this time, before the season’s biggest nights expose them again.
