January 2nd 2025.
Real Madrid are showing great determination in their pursuit of Arsenal's centre-back William Saliba. The Spanish giants are willing to go above and beyond in order to secure the talented defender, with reports stating that they are prepared to "break all records" to sign him. Saliba's representatives have responded positively to Madrid's interest, making it clear that the player is open to a move to the Bernabeu.
At just 23 years old, Saliba has already established himself as one of the most sought-after defenders in Europe. After joining Arsenal from Saint-Etienne in 2019, he has made 109 appearances for the club in all competitions. However, despite his impressive performances, he has yet to lift any major trophies, with the exception of two Community Shield titles in 2020 and 2023.
Madrid's pursuit of Saliba has been ongoing for some time now, and they are not alone in their interest. Rumors have been circulating that Paris Saint-Germain has already made a significant bid for the Frenchman, which Arsenal has rejected. However, Madrid sees Saliba as their top priority in defense and are fully aware that they will need to "break all records" to secure his signature. They are also willing to spend big on full-backs, with Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies being targeted.
Despite Arsenal's reluctance to sell Saliba, Madrid remains optimistic and has received a positive response from the player's camp. The report suggests that Madrid's strategy is to make an offer of over €100 million and persuade Saliba to request a transfer. This would break all records for a defender and would also make him one of the most expensive players in history.
If the move does happen, Saliba's close relationship with Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe could prove to be a factor. The two grew up together in Bondy and share a strong bond. Mbappe's father, Wilfrid, even coached Saliba in the youth teams at AS Bondy. In a previous interview, Saliba spoke highly of Wilfrid's influence and how he helped shape his career.
Back in October, Madrid's center-back Antonio Rudiger, who previously played for Chelsea, named Saliba as one of the best defenders in the world. He praised Saliba's partnership with Arsenal's other center-back Gabriel, stating that they have been doing an amazing job for the past two years. Rudiger sees Saliba as a clean, silent leader on the pitch, which could make for a formidable partnership with himself at Madrid.
Overall, Madrid is not afraid to spend big on Saliba and sees him as a crucial addition to their defense. With his talent and potential, he could become one of the best defenders in the world and play a key role in Madrid's future success.
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