Alex Baena has opened up about Atlético Madrid's ambitions and spoken of his desire for the club to sign Arsenal midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

The Spanish midfielder has enjoyed a more positive campaign after admitting that last season was particularly difficult, with injuries and a lack of confidence affecting his performances.

However, Baena has also made clear that he believes Atlético could benefit from adding further quality to their midfield, with one Premier League player particularly catching his eye.

Baena names Arsenal star as dream Atlético signing

Baena was asked about the possibility of Martin Zubimendi joining Atlético Madrid and did not hide his enthusiasm for the prospect.

"I would love for him to come. He is the second best defensive midfielder in the world after Rodri. I hope he can come," he said.

"He would be a great addition to the team and the dressing room."

Zubimendi completed a move to Arsenal from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2025 and has since become an important part of Mikel Arteta's midfield options.

The 27-year-old established himself as one of Spain's leading midfielders during his time in LaLiga, making him a familiar figure to Baena.

The Atlético midfielder's comments underline the regard in which Zubimendi is held by his fellow Spanish internationals, although he did not suggest that a transfer was close or that Atlético had made an approach.

Baena reflects on Atlético's Barcelona defeat

The midfielder also opened up about Atlético's recent defeat against Barcelona, admitting that the result had left him frustrated.

Baena revealed that he struggled to sleep after the game because of the adrenaline and disappointment.

"I went to bed angry. With all the adrenaline, it's hard for me to sleep. I spent a lot of time thinking about it," he explained.

Despite the defeat, he believed Atlético had produced an impressive first-half performance, even comparing it favourably with previous victories over Barcelona and Real Madrid.

"In all the time I've been here, I think it was the best half we've played in a long time. Even better than last year when we beat Madrid and Barça," he said.

"We just couldn't keep up the pace. I left angry because I think we deserved to win; we had clearer chances. We missed an opportunity to take the lead that we couldn't afford to waste."

Baena enjoying happier spell at Atlético

The 24-year-old also reflected on his personal development, explaining how a difficult previous campaign had affected his confidence.

"Last year was tough, it was a really bad season for me. This year I've been able to regain all that confidence and also enjoy the day-to-day, the training sessions, when I'm at home… I think it really shows when I'm on the field," he said.

Baena explained that injuries and appendicitis had disrupted his previous season, but believes the World Cup experience helped him physically and mentally.

He also admitted that he now approaches setbacks differently, choosing to spend more time enjoying life with friends and family rather than allowing a poor performance to affect his entire day.

His improved confidence has coincided with a more positive spell on the pitch, while his admiration for Zubimendi has provided another talking point during the international break.

Whether Atlético could ever turn Baena's wish into a transfer remains to be seen, but the midfielder has made it clear that he would welcome the Arsenal star to Madrid.