AS reported that Real Madrid will not sign Martin Zubimendi, and that the club has effectively lost its battle against Arsenal.
The London club had an agreement with the Spanish midfielder for months, before Real Madrid entered negotiations in recent days.
Spanish media outlets had suggested that Los Blancos’s interest in negotiating would change everything, and that Zubimendi could end up at the Santiago Bernabéu.
However, according to the latest report from AS, Arsenal’s management is extremely confident of concluding a deal for Zubimendi, and the player will honor his release clause and join the Gunners.
The newspaper explained that Arsenal will pay the release clause, estimated at approximately €60 million, in one lump sum, along with an annual salary that exceeds the salary ceiling for all Real Madrid stars, effectively ending Florentino Pérez’s chances of concluding the deal.
In the same vein, after the failure with Zubimendi, Real Madrid is expected to attempt to sign a new midfielder, but his identity remains unknown.
While Stuttgart’s Angelo Stieler was considered an option following Toni Kroos’ recommendation, he is now ruled out due to the high cost of the deal and doubts that he is the ideal replacement for Modric in the Spanish capital.
