Published: 08:59, 13 January 2026 | Updated: 08:59, 13 January 2026

Real Madrid's failure to sign Xabi Alonso's top transfer target from Arsenal has been blamed for 'dooming' his tenure from the start.

Alonso, who left Madrid on Monday by 'mutual consent', reportedly made it clear to the hierarchy that midfielder Martin Zubimendi was top of his wish list. 

Madrid's failure to shore up their midfield with a conductor who can also lead an aggressive press is seen as a key reason why Alonso was unable to impose his ideas. 

Alonso had a hard time convincing the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior to buy into the collective ethos which worked so well at Bayer Leverkusen. Meanwhile, Madrid have lacked the control in midfield that Toni Kroos and Luka Modric used to bring. 

Spanish newspaper AS claims that Madrid had the finances to sign Zubimendi - Arsenal bought him for £60million from Real Sociedad - but that they hesitated. 

Zubimendi reportedly delayed his move to Arsenal after hearing from Alonso but Madrid's hierarchy continued to stall and the 26-year-old...