Arsenal’s new midfield gem was handed a compliment he will never forget. The Spaniard Martín Zubimendi who joined the Gunners this summer for a fee of £60m finally has his big breakthrough. Born on February 2, 1999, in San Sebastián, Spain, he came through the youth ranks of local club Antiguoko before joining Real Sociedad in 2011. He made his first-team debut for Real Sociedad in 2019 and went on to make over 200 appearances for the club, winning the 2019-20 Copa del Rey.
He is known for his calm and intelligent style of play, often compared to fellow Spanish midfielders Sergio Busquets and Xabi Alonso. He is a deep-lying playmaker who excels at controlling the tempo of a game and is highly resistant to pressure. He is also praised for his defensive positioning and ability to read the game, which allows him to make key interceptions and recoveries. He was a part of Spain’s victorious squad in UEFA Euro 2024.
Rodri has established himself as arguably the best defensive midfielder in the world. He is the anchor for both Manchester City and the Spanish national team, a position of immense responsibility that he has excelled in with his impeccable passing, positional intelligence, and composure under pressure. His contributions have been pivotal to an era of unparalleled success for his clubs, including four consecutive Premier League titles for Manchester City and a historic treble in 2023. Individually, he has been recognized with the 2024 Ballon d’Or, a rare honor for a holding midfielder.
Given his stature as a leader and a master of his craft, Rodri’s words carry significant weight, especially when it comes to his international teammates. It is in this context that his recent comments about Martín Zubimendi, the young Arsenal midfielder, are so striking. Following his recovery from a difficult, injury-plagued season, Rodri spoke about his conversation with Zubimendi. He said: “He has the discipline and mentality that can lead him to become one of the best, if he isn’t already. I spoke to him the other day and told him it was his time, that I am leaving him the keys to the team.
"I've always said it, with his discipline, his mentality, it can lead you to be one of the best!"🔥
— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) September 8, 2025
HUGE praise from Rodri for Martin Zubimendi ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/DUxDUtXoyA
For a player as dominant as Rodri to openly anoint a successor demonstrates the immense respect he has for Zubimendi’s abilities and potential. It signals to the football world that Zubimendi is not just a promising talent, but a player ready to take on the mantle of leadership for one of the world’s most successful national teams.
