Madrid Dismiss Zubimendi Pursuit as City Swoop for Monga Ahead of Arsenal

Real Madrid have decided against reviving their interest in Arsenal midfielder Martin Zubimendi, according to reports emerging from Spain.

Arsenal's Premier League title triumph last season—their first in 22 years under Mikel Arteta's stewardship—came with a bitter Champions League pill to swallow. The Gunners fell to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties in the final, with Zubimendi proving instrumental throughout their campaign. Though the Spanish midfielder's form dipped noticeably in the closing stages, drawing criticism, he remains central to Arteta's long-term plans.

The club are actively hunting for reinforcements in midfield to complement Zubimendi and Declan Rice, with Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes among the prime targets on their radar.

Madrid had previously circled when Zubimendi was at Real Sociedad, but any suggestion of a reunion appears dead in the water. Onda Cero journalist Alberto Pereiro has flatly dismissed the prospect, declaring "NO" when asked about a potential switch to the Bernabéu. Pereiro's assessment was damning: "Zubimendi has had a difficult end to the year. Zubimendi is having a difficult summer. And Zubimendi is going to have an even more difficult year!"

Monga Joins City After Arsenal Miss Out

Arsenal's summer has suffered another blow with the loss of Leicester winger Jeremy Monga to Manchester City. The Premier League runners-up moved swiftly to secure the teenager's signature, outmuscling the Gunners in the process.

Monga's arrival was confirmed on Saturday, with the 17-year-old expressing his delight at the move. "When I became aware that Manchester City were interested, I knew instantly this was the right choice for me," he told the club's official channels. "For any young footballer, to become part of this amazing club is a dream come true."

The youngster highlighted City's proven track record of developing academy talent, pointing to Phil Foden and Nico O'Reilly as examples of the pathway available to promising prospects. "This has been the best club in England over the past 10 years, and it has also handed opportunities to players from the Academy like Phil Foden and Nico O'Reilly which shows that the pathway is there," Monga added. "It is a privilege to be here and I'm delighted to have joined."

Hugo Viana, Manchester City's director of football, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition. "Jeremy is an exciting player who has already made huge strides in his young career," Viana said. "We were already very aware of him as a Club and we have seen his ability first-hand from his time at Leicester. At 17-years-old we feel he is only going to continue to improve and that this is the correct next step in his career. We look forward to supporting him on every step in his journey."