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What accounts for the limitless rise of William Saliba over the past two years? To his qualities, inevitably, but also undoubtedly to his astonishing loan to OM in 2021. Returning to Arsenal in the shoes of a French international and vice-world champion, the former Stéphanois knew how to dig into the right drawers at the right times to win. Result: he is today the guarantor of the balance of the Gunners, and one of the first names checked by Mikel Arteta before the matches.
At the same time, he became a starter in the French team, with whom he had also shined during Euro 2024 by finishing in the standard team of the tournament, but also an internationally recognized player with a 24th place in the Ballon d’Or this year. A great reward for a player who has become a reference in his position in Europe. Even Virgil van Dijk recently said he was amazed by his counterpart, whom he considered to be ahead of him at the same age. It remains to be seen what the 23-year-old defender’s intentions are today: to continue his history with Arsenal, a major player in Europe but perhaps still too green to claim a title in C1, or to try to see what is done on the upper floor?
Real Madrid wants to make it the pillar of its defense
It’s difficult to come forward with conviction on the matter, but what we are pretty sure of is that Saliba will be spoiled for choice in the months to come. If he extended his contract until 2027 with the Gunners last year, the native of Bondy remains on the radars of the biggest European clubs, starting with Real Madrid. A few weeks ago, the British press had rumored an interest from the Merengue club in the player, but according to the latest information from Sportthe stage of simple interest has since been passed.
The media explains that the Frenchman is today one of the files deemed a priority by Real Madrid, along with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alphonso Davies. With Militao’s injury and Rüdiger’s age (31), the Merengue club needs to strengthen itself and find a future lieutenant. The article goes even further since it reports discussions between the management and the Saliba clan, which would also have indicated its interest in the idea of joining Spain. We will nevertheless have to count on Arsenal, who will not hesitate to set a prohibitive price, undoubtedly close to 100 million euros for their defender.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
 When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.