Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid reportedly scouted Arsenal defensive mainstay William Saliba against Manchester City this past weekend.
According to a report from Graeme Bailey on TBR Football, Real Madrid retain interest in Arsenal centre-back William Saliba, and their scouts were present in the stands to watch him in action against Manchester City on Sunday. While the Gunners have made significant progress in contract renewal talks with the French international, Los Blancos continue to monitor him ahead of a potential transfer.
Saliba came up the ranks at Saint-Etienne and made quite a name for himself while playing for their first team before joining Arsenal in the summer of 2019 in a deal worth £27 million. The Frenchman had multiple loan spells away from the club in the initial years, but of late, he has been one of their mainstays.
The 24-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best young defenders in the world, and it is one of the major reasons why he finds himself on the wishlist of Real Madrid, who are constantly looking for world-class players to further bolster their squad.
The team in white are massive admirers of the French centre-back, who has been doing wonders for both club and country. While they did sign Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth this summer, Los Blancos are still looking for more quality at the back and have set their sights on William Saliba.
Real Madrid are keen on signing Saliba
Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba could leave Real Madrid at the end of the season. So, William Saliba could be an ideal player to bring in, as he can help in the short and long run. While the team in white are also looking at the free agent market with Ibrahima Konate, Dayot Upamecano, and Marc Guehi all potentially available for free in 2026, they also have their eyes on Saliba.
Real Madrid will not sign a player purely because he is available for free. They want to bring in someone who is an ideal fit for Xabi Alonso’s system and their project. The Spanish giants are massive admirers of Saliba, and they have been keeping a close eye on the Frenchman for a while.
Their scouts were in attendance to watch the 24-year-old French international in action for Arsenal in their 1-1 draw against Manchester City. Los Blancos will continue to monitor him before making a potential move next summer.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are aware of the increasing interest in their defensive mainstay, and they are working hard to secure his long-term future with a new deal. The Gunners have made significant progress in renewal talks, and it will be interesting to see if he puts pen to paper before the end of the season.