Arsenal defender spoke about the talk linking him with a move to Real Madrid.
Defender addresses talk of Madrid interest
William Saliba confessed that it felt appealing when Real Madrid interest came. The defender told French media, “Of course, it’s always tempting to have a club of that size trying to recruit you.”
Saliba, however, made it quite known through the attention that hit his ear that he is concentrated on the present. His rise in the PL has been fast. He has turned himself into one of head coach Mikel Arteta’s most reliable players.
The defender’s football IQ has made him an integral part of the defense for Arsenal, and as a result, he is now viewed as one of the most coveted young defenders in the whole of Europe, with a significant amount of interest shown from many European clubs.
🚨 William Saliba: "Real Madrid's interest? Of course it's really tempting when a club like that is interested in you, but I wanted to win titles at Arsenal first before thinking about anything else." @telefoot_TF1 pic.twitter.com/mQZifJLekH
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) November 2, 2025
Arsenal plans to go long term.
Saliba has just agreed to extend his stay with the North London club until 2030. That is a move that silenced any serious talks of his leaving. The new contract is a sign of the team’s recognition and also of Arteta trusting him as a future leader.
Meanwhile, Arsenal is at the top of the league. Saliba’s great form is one of the key factors of that run. The player knows very well that the ultimate goal of trophies will be his if only he waits long and keeps on developing via Arteta’s route.
Last summer’s interest from Madrid did not tempt Saliba away from the current PL leaders. He chose to stay there where he saw both stability and ambition. This shows his belief in the North London side’s long-term project.
Author’s opinion:
Saliba’s call to stay shows maturity beyond his age. Staying loyal to Arsenal, proves he’s focused on building something lasting.
As featured on GoonerNews.com