William Saliba says interest from Real Madrid is ‘really tempting’, but his aim is to win titles with Arsenal ‘before thinking about anything else’.
The French defender was heavily linked with a move to the Spanish capital before committing his future to the Gunners with a new long-term deal in September, running until June 2030.
Saliba finally addressed speculation over a potential move to Real in an interview with French publication Telefoot, admitting that the Spanish giants’ interest was flattering but not enough to lure him away from his quest for titles in North London.
Saliba has anchored an Arsenal defence that has finished second in the Premier League for the past three seasons and reached the Champions League semi-final last term.
Arsenal are six points clear at the top of the Premier League after 10 games and have the best defensive record, with only three goals conceded.
William Saliba Addresses Real Madrid Links
William Saliba
Saliba, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano, addressed links to Real Madrid in a recent interview with Telefoot, saying interest from the Spanish giants was ‘really tempting’.
Saliba’s previous deal with Arsenal was scheduled to expire in June 2027, and speculation had linked him with being a target for Real, who have welcomed former Premier League defenders Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer.
Saliba joined Arsenal in the summer of 2019 and emerged as a first-team regular in 2022/23 following loans at his previous clubs Saint-Etienne and Nice.
The 24-year-old has since established himself as one of the best central defenders in the world and was voted into the PFA Team of the Year for the last three seasons.
The Frenchman has made 146 appearances for the Gunners to date, scoring seven goals, and lifted two Community Shields, in 2020 and 2023.
Arsenal’s defensive displays have been exceptional lately, with Mikel Arteta’s side conceding no goals in their last seven games in all competitions.
The 2-0 win at Burnley on Saturday saw the Gunners extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table, with Manchester City, Liverpool and Bournemouth making up the rest of the top four.
The North London side next visit Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Tuesday before taking on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.