Xabi Alonso's Biggest Regret at Real Madrid

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10/05/26 18:00:00

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From the first minute of the analysis at the Ciudad Deportiva, it was clear that Martín Zubimendi was Xabi Alonso's obsession. On that Sunday, the coach and his technical staff sketched a plan in which the midfielder from San Sebastián emerged as the ideal reinforcement.

The coach stated that Zubimendi "would have provided an extra edge" to Real Madrid in building up from the back, bringing control and pace. According to those internal assessments, that challenging Saturday was "an accident," not a symbol of structural weakness.

Xabi Alonso's vision: Zubimendi as the generational replacement

Xabi Alonso believes that Real Madrid has a squad capable of competing on all surfaces but acknowledges that the midfield urgently needs strengthening. The departures of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric leave a void that —for him— was tailor-made for Martín Zubimendi.

During that internal meeting at the Ciudad Deportiva, one after another, the collaborators agreed that the midfielder from Real Sociedad would have been a key piece. That unity in opinion was surprising: it is not common for the coaching staff to praise a future acquisition with such consensus.

When Alonso dissected that defeat, with a self-critical tone, he made it clear that Real Madrid could not rely solely on the offensive geniuses. "We need balance," he hinted. For him, Zubimendi offered that balance.

Arsenal wins the battle: Zubimendi chooses London

The player, on his part, confessed that he was eager to sign for Real Madrid, although by the time Alonso landed at the Bernabéu, the deal with Arsenal was already sealed.

Arsenal activated their buyout clause of around 60 million euros plus adjustments, and secured Zubimendi's transfer in July 2025. The English project convinced the midfielder, especially due to their style of play, the club's ambition, and the opportunity to compete in the Premier League.

In his friendly debut, Zubimendi impressed coach Mikel Arteta, who praised his tactical intelligence and solidity. It was an unforeseen blow for Madrid: the deal with the Gunners was advanced when Alonso arrived at the club. Sources suggest that the white club made a last attempt to "snatch" the deal from Arsenal but arrived too late.

Internal lesson for Real Madrid and the future in the midfield

Although the coach has informed Florentino Pérez that he trusts the squad to aim for everything, he has also made it clear that the midfield will be a priority for the 2026 market. That position was the most affected by the exits of Kroos and Modric, irreplaceable pieces until now.

On that Sunday at the Ciudad Deportiva, the technical team devised a map: offensive lines exhausting energies, highly defensive tactics, slow transitions. In that context, Martín Zubimendi appeared as the missing link that could have connected all those aspects.

Xabi Alonso has already stated that he doesn't idolize excuses and that this defeat will not alter his conviction to rebuild a team with balance and long-term vision. A slight regret grows within Madrid: not signing Zubimendi was a strategic mistake. And although he now plays for Arsenal, the coach will continue to gaze at that gap with nostalgia. After all, Martín Zubimendi was the rock that Xabi dreamed of for his midfield.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El mayor arrepentimiento de Xabi Alonso en el Real Madrid