William Saliba could be about to leave Arsenal. And Real Madrid are the top defensive target for the Frenchman, who has been a stabilizer of Mikel Arteta’s defense. If anything, when Los Blancos want something, they usually get it.
Sky Sports Switzerland reports Saliba’s representatives have already spoken to Madrid, sparking fears of an Arsenal defensive star being lost. The pair of them, Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães,,,,, have formed a rock-solid partnership, a solid backline that no side has had in the Premier League this season. Nevertheless, it may still not be enough to keep him at the Emirates.
Why Saliba is Tempted by Real Madrid
As it turns out, there is much more than footballing prestige at stake here. Saliba dreams of playing alongside Kylian Mbappé, his childhood friend from Bondy. As Madrid looks to sign Mbappé this summer, after the never-ending rhetoric of the last couple of years about the country’s biggest, richest, and most dominant club signing the France star, the notion of a French super team in white actually sounds quite nice.
Not to mention, Madrid is more than a football club; it is a footballing utopia. There is where legends are made, Champions League trophies are collected like Pokémon cards and the players have their own section in FIFA history books. Saliba clearly wants that ride, and he is hungry now, he seems eager to grab his ticket to that ride.
Arsenal’s Record-Breaking Dilemma: Keep or Cash In?
If Arsenal did sell though, it wouldn’t be done without a fight for their money. The club is said to want £100 million for Saliba, a fee that would beat Harry Maguire’s infamous £80 million record. Yes, you read that right. Maguire still holds that title.
It is not a surprise that Madrid have deep pockets. They also watch Trent Alexander-Arnold (available for free), they may want Saliba’s defensive solidity. The big question is: Will Arsenal hang tight and sell up and spend the money on rebuilding?
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