Former Barcelona manager Xavi has revealed that he asked the Catalan club to sign a player who now represents Arsenal back in 2023.
The Gunners and the La Liga giants have been embroiled in something of a feud since the 2006 Champions League final, when Arsene Wenger’s side’s hearts were broken in the dying embers in Paris. Since then, the North Londoners have been forced to allow several key players to move to the Nou Camp, prompting many Arsenal fans to not hold the Spanish outfit in the highest regard.
However, in recent times the Gunners have got the better of Barcelona in the transfer market, including in this specific case, which involved Xavi’s request being rejected before Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta went on to land the man in question.
Xavi reveals that he wanted Barcelona to sign Martin Zubimendi to replace Sergio Busquets
Arsenal signed eight players last summer, spending in excess of £250 million in the process. While the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze and Piero Hincapie have been important in their pursuit of a quadruple thus far this term, Martin Zubimendi has arguably been the most pivotal acquisition.
Zubimendi may have looked fatigued of late, but the Spaniard has been a key figure in the Gunners’ midfield, playing more outfield minutes than anyone else in Arteta’s squad. Complimenting Declan Rice perfectly in the middle of the park, the 27-year-old could be in line for a place in the Premier League team of the year come the end of the season.
Thus, it’s no surprise to hear that Zubimendi was on Barcelona’s radar a few years ago. Xavi, who managed La Blaugrana between 2021 and 2024, has claimed that he urged his former employers to add the metronomic midfielder to his squad in 2023.
Legendary number six Sergio Busquets had just left Catalonia to join Inter Miami, and Barcelona were on the hunt for his replacement. Xavi’s ideal candidate was Zubimendi, but he was told by the Nou Camp hierarchy that a deal with Real Sociedad wasn’t feasible for financial reasons.
“Sergio Busquets was leaving, so I asked them to sign Zubimendi, and they told me no for financial reasons,” he told La Vanguardia.
“Then Jordi Cruyff left because of the contempt they showed him – I mean, Cruyff’s son. They, who carry the banner of Cruyffism… I told him, “What are you saying? We just won the league”, and a month and a half later, they let Mateu Alemany go as a director.
“At that point, I should have left too. While we were in control, the team kept improving, but as soon as they started making the decisions, and not by chance, the team went down.”
What would’ve happened had Martin Zubimendi signed for Barcelona in 2023?
Had Zubimendi signed for Barcelona in 2023, things may have panned out very differently. The then 24-year-old would’ve slotted into a midfield cohort that consisted of Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Gavi, which might have prompted one of these players to leave the Spanish club.
The most likely casualty would’ve been De Jong, given he has consistently been linked with a move away and is older than the other two aforementioned number eights. It’s possible that after a year of reduced game time, the Dutchman would’ve been keen on an exit.
In the summer of 2024, Arsenal moved for Mikel Merino. Had De Jong been available on the market, it’s plausible that Arteta would’ve pushed for his signature. De Jong was loosely linked with Arsenal for a while, so it’s not unfeasible that this deal would’ve materialised.
Athletic ' Premier League Data suggests no player has run more than Zubimendi. In his debut season in English football, the 27-year-old Spain international has already covered more than 311 km (193 miles) & only 9 PL players have run further than Rice (285km)' pic.twitter.com/UlH97Jln0u
— Don Draper (@arsenalbarclays) March 4, 2026
However, last summer, the Gunners would’ve needed to add a number six to their ranks after Jorginho and Thomas Partey left, and Zubimendi likely wouldn’t have been an option had he joined Barcelona two years before. Given Arsenal wrapped up a deal for the San Sebastian native several months in advance, there were few links to other players, so it’s difficult to know who Berta would’ve targeted.
Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller and Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes may have been among the list of candidates.
