Arsenal Star William Saliba Drops Bombshell About Real Madrid's Transfer Pursuit
William Saliba has acknowledged that transfer speculation from Real Madrid was "enticing," but emphasized he had no doubts about committing to a fresh contract with Arsenal.
With just two years remaining on his existing Arsenal deal, Saliba emerged as another prominent target for Madrid's strategy of acquiring top talent on free transfers. The French defender was reportedly viewed as an ideal acquisition for Los Blancos, until his new five-year agreement in September effectively ended their pursuit.
Saliba had previously expressed his eagerness to extend his stay at Arsenal, pledging to help bring significant trophies to the Emirates before entertaining any thoughts of departing in the future.
However, Saliba has now revealed to Téléfoot that Madrid's interest did cause him to reflect on his career trajectory.
"Naturally, it's always appealing when such a prestigious club shows interest in you, but my intention was to remain at Arsenal. My priority is winning titles before considering other opportunities," he revealed.
Saliba: No Possibility of Mbappé Partnership in Madrid
Beyond his reputation as one of the globe's finest central defenders, connections between Saliba and Madrid were reinforced by his origins in Bondy, the same Parisian neighborhood that produced Kylian Mbappé. Both players developed through the local youth system and have frequently been linked with a potential club reunion.
When questioned about potentially joining his fellow Bondy graduate in Madrid next season, Saliba chuckled: "No, no, the Bondy link exists within the French national squad, for the time being."
Having secured both Saliba and defensive partner Gabriel with new extended deals, Arsenal look well-positioned in that area for the foreseeable future. The situation differs for Madrid, who continue their quest for defensive reinforcements.
David Alaba and Antonio Rüdiger may both depart Madrid this summer, creating space for at least one new addition. The La Liga frontrunners are presently targeting free agent acquisitions, with Crystal Palace's Marc Guéhi, Liverpool's Ibrahima Konaté and Bayern Munich's Dayot Upamecano all reportedly being evaluated.