“I will never leave Arsenal for Real Madrid unless this happens”: Arsenal defender William Saliba has revealed the only reason he might consider joining Real Madrid from Arsenal
Arsenal defender William Saliba has brushed off ongoing speculation about a potential future transfer to Real Madrid, a club in desperate need of centre-back reinforcement.
Madrid haven’t recruited a central defender since Antonio Rudiger’s free agent arrival in 2022 and haven’t paid money for one in even longer.
But with Nacho departing last summer and injuries to David Alaba and Eder Militao, the squad has been left threadbare this season. Aurelien Tchouameni has been plugged in as emergency cover, with Raul Asencio and Jacobo Ramon also fast-tracked into the first-team.
Madrid have been linked with all manner of recruitment options, from ageing superstar Virgil van Dijk at one of the end of the spectrum, to the up and coming Castello Lukeba at the other. Saliba, as someone approaching his peak, falls somewhere in the middle.
Yet the Frenchman, who had to be patient for his Arsenal chance after initially arriving as an unknown teenager and spending several seasons out on loan, isn’t pushing for a move.
“For me, I’m really happy here,” he told reporters this week. “I’ve been here for two years and a half as well. There is nothing. I’m happy here and I want to continue here.”
Saliba has a contract with Arsenal until 2027 and insists there is “no rush” to enter talks over a new deal at this time. “There is some years [left]. I’m happy here, that’s it.”
Rudiger has already talked up Saliba’s qualities, recently rating the player among the three centre-backs he considers the best out there at other clubs.
“Saliba, Virgil van Dijk and… I like Gabriel from Arsenal, he is really pushing,” the German said.
“I just enjoy, for example if you see Arsenal, the two centre-backs playing together, they’ve been doing an amazing job for two years now.
“The transformation from the Arsenal that was a bit before to now, those two are the pillars of it, Gabriel and Saliba. Gabriel is the more aggressive leader, and Saliba…this brother plays clean. You have to give it to him. He looks like a silent leader, and I like that.”
