Arteta Breaks Silence on Saliba's Real Madrid Transfer Discussions
Mikel Arteta has revealed he anticipates William Saliba's fresh Arsenal deal to be revealed imminently, commending the center-back for his professionalism amid transfer speculation from Real Madrid.
Reports surfaced this week that Saliba has reached agreement on terms for a rewarding new contract with Arsenal, effectively ending Real Madrid's determined pursuit which featured rumors of massive transfer offers and even attempts to secure him as a free agent in 2027.
Saliba had openly stated his intention to remain at Arsenal past his current contract terms, and Arteta revealed the 24-year-old had consistently maintained this position in private discussions about Madrid's courtship.
"I approached him directly, because when you hear such speculation—you must understand, players are human," he shared at a press briefing. "Ultimately, players have emotions, they've been raised by their families, perhaps they harbor dreams about certain opportunities, and that's completely understandable.
"During my conversation with William, I posed the question directly. His response was, 'No, I wish to remain here, I want to play under you and I'm extremely content'."
When questioned whether these discussions centered on Madrid particularly, Arteta responded: "Generally speaking, I avoided being too specific, but it was evident given all the speculation surrounding particular clubs. We didn't need to mention many teams, as there aren't numerous clubs capable of luring Willy away from us with him being willing to entertain it. He was direct and completely transparent and genuine from day one."
Arteta: My Bond With Saliba Has Grown Stronger
For Arsenal supporters, it's now simply a matter of awaiting Saliba's signature and Arsenal's official confirmation of his extension.
"Ideally it will be everyone globally [announcing the new deal has been completed], Arsenal included, very shortly," Arteta smiled. "That's my expectation, but let's allow the club to make that announcement when everything is finalized.
"He's been crucial to everything we've accomplished in recent years. It's been wonderful to witness numerous players eager to pledge their futures to the club. This indicates they're satisfied, they feel appreciated and they recognize this represents the optimal chance for them to advance their careers and achieve the club's aspirations.
"Truly remarkable, his achievements at such a young age. His reliability, his development and maturation as an individual, he's evolved each season. I believe he's formed a partnership with Gabi [Magalhães] particularly, but with the entire defensive unit and goalkeeper that has produced the strongest defensive statistics over the past three years, I think. He's been essential to that success."
William Saliba's Premier League Statistics
Saliba has become one of Arteta's most reliable performers and the Gunners manager was pleased to reflect on the difference from the beginning of his Arsenal journey, which witnessed tensions between them over what Saliba perceived as insufficient first-team chances.
"How our relationship began, when we likely had differing expectations or visions regarding the optimal development path for him to reach his potential, eventually, we reached mutual understanding, we chose to collaborate and, from that moment, everything began to thrive," Arteta mused.
"The talent was obviously present, it was about proper timing and, in my view, establishing the appropriate conditions for him to showcase his capabilities."