‘THEY TOLD ME NO’: XAVI MAKES BARCELONA TRANSFER ADMISSION ABOUT ARSENAL’S MARTIN ZUBIMENDI

In a reveal-all interview with La Vanguardia, Xavi broke his silence on his transfer plea to sign Martin Zubimendi at Barcelona, two years before the midfielder joined Arsenal.

It’s not only Real Madrid who were admirers of Zubimendi, who signed for Arsenal last summer for a fee of just £51m.

Fans were aware that a move was in the works as early as January 2025, and given the interest that built around the player in the summer, it’s a relief that planning started so early.

Real Madrid still think about Zubimendi, and they’re not the only ones in La Liga who consider the midfielder to be a prized possession, as there was a time when Barcelona also wanted to sign him.

・READ MORE: Declan Rice tells Arsenal fans what they just cannot forget about Martin Zubimendi

Xavi confirms that he wanted Barcelona to replace Sergio Busquets with Martin Zubimendi

In a lengthy interview with La Vanguardia, former Barcelona manager Xavi gave an insight into his plans for the 2023 transfer window, after acknowledging that Sergio Busquets was set to leave Catalonia.

After winning La Liga in the 2022/23 season, some planning for the future was needed, which is why, in Xavi’s eyes, Zubimendi was the ideal candidate to replace a player of Busquets’ calibre.

“Busquets was leaving, I asked them to sign Zubimendi, and they told me no for financial reasons,” he revealed.

Xavi described the drop in expectations during that transfer window as a ‘regret’, painting a picture of how desired Zubimendi was.

It was the first of a series of summers that the now-Arsenal man was wanted, as after being eyed by Barcelona in 2023, Zubimendi rejected Liverpool in 2024, only to leave his boyhood club the following year to join Arsenal.

Xavi’s transfer admission is a reminder of how highly-rated Zubimendi is

It’s a rarity for a player to be wanted by Real Madrid, Liverpool and Barcelona and choose to join Arsenal, but that’s what Zubimendi did.

Arsenal haven’t looked back since the 26-year-old became a Gunner, but in recent weeks, the discourse around the Spaniard has changed slightly.

Zubimendi has been making a lot of mistakes, leaving a lot to be desired in recent performances, but Xavi’s latest words only reinforce how lucky Arsenal are to have the Spain international in their ranks.

For the ex-Real Sociedad star to be recognised as an heir to Busquets by a figure like Xavi is arguably the greatest show of his quality, irrespective of what is happening on the pitch.

Arsenal signed a real gem in Zubimendi, which is why Mikel Arteta is squeezing the minutes out of him.

Don’t let a below-par patch of form force you to forget the talent the Gunners recruited in the summer, a midfielder once recognised as a Busquets successor at Barcelona.

2026-03-09T08:11:41Z