Arsenal’s William Saliba has risen to prominence as one of the Premier League’s most promising defenders, attracting the attention of Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Initially, his future at The Emirates seemed uncertain after his arrival from St Etienne in 2019. However, a transformative period followed as he spent two seasons on loan at Nice and Marseille.
His performances in France were stellar, earning him recognition as the Young Player of the Year and a debut for the national team.
Upon his return to Arsenal, Saliba seamlessly integrated into the first team, solidifying his position as a regular starter and earning a new long-term contract last summer.
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Despite initial doubts, he has proven himself as a pivotal figure for The Gunners since breaking into the first team in 2022.
While Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain expressed interest in Saliba last summer, Real Madrid has recently intensified their pursuit of the French prodigy.
Real Madrid rate William Saliba as a world class player, shows interest as they rebuild for the future.
Madrid’s interest stems from their need to bolster their central defense in the coming 18 to 24 months. Although satisfied with Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao, they lack depth in that area, particularly with Militao sidelined due to injury for most of the season.
Real Madrid’s scouting chief, Juni Calafat, has been tasked with identifying defensive prospects, with Lille’s Leny Yoro and Benfica’s Antonio Silva emerging as potential targets.
However, financial constraints, compounded by the impending arrivals of Endrick, Kylian Mbappe, and Alphonso Davies, may hinder their ability to secure a new central defender.
Saliba’s performances have not gone unnoticed by Madrid’s scouting team. They have been highly impressed with his contributions and consider him one of the standout defenders globally.
While there are no immediate plans to make a bid for Saliba this summer, he is increasingly admired at the Santiago Bernabeu, positioning him as a long-term target for Real Madrid.
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