William Saliba News

Arsenal warned William Saliba will make Real Madrid transfer move - 'The door is open'

Former Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly is adamant William Saliba will one day play for Real Madrid after declaring him the world's best centre-half. Saliba has flourished at the Emirates ever since becoming a regular in 2022, which came after several loan spells away. He now forms a centre-half partnership with Gabriel that has been regarded as the best in Europe. Arsenal claimed Premier League glory last season with their defensive solidity the foundation of their success. Desailly now believes that Saliba has marked himself out as the best in the world in his position, exceeding the likes of Virgil van Dijk, who had been the standard for so long. The Frenchman also suggested that Gabriel's plaudits come off the back of him playing alongside Saliba. The ex-Chelsea captain Desailly told Sportscasting : "Who do I think is the best centre-back in the world? It's not Virgil van Dijk. "He has his level, we know, there's no doubt he's a great defender. But on some occasions, he has shown a little bit of weakness. "I would put William Saliba there, even though he has some problems with his back, I think he's in the conversation for the world's best centre-back. Saliba is definitely one of the best ones. Gabriel is only there because of Saliba – so Gabriel, no, he's not in the conversation. "Who else can we say? At Manchester United , there's nothing. Chelsea , not at that level. Inter Milan, AC Milan, absolutely not. So I would say Saliba is part of the defensive elite who have that consistency and are capable of winning their one-v-ones no matter who comes across them." In September last year, Saliba signed a five-year deal to keep him at the north Londoners until the summer of 2030, but a move has still been talked up. Desailly foresees a day when Saliba is playing for Los Blancos. "Yes, yes. I do expect William Saliba to one day wear the colours of Real Madrid," he said. "He's committed to Arsenal for the next, I don’t know, four years. "But he's young, so why not? The door is open, and all the best players want to play for Real Madrid at some point in their careers. The door is open. But not now. Not now. He is the best central defender, so it is what it is today." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

2026-07-02

‘Best in the world’ – Marcel Desailly backs Arsenal star for Real Madrid transfer

France World Cup winner Marcel Desailly (Picture: Getty) Marcel Desailly has revealed he ‘expects’ William Saliba to move to Real Madrid after developing into the ‘best defender in the world’ at Arsenal. Saliba has been one of the key figures in Arsenal’s stingy defence in recent years, helping the Gunners twice finish second in the Premier League before last season’s huge title win. The 25-year-old, who is currently at the World Cup with tournament favourites France, joined Arsenal in a £27m move from Saint-Etienne in 2019. Much was expected of Saliba following his arrival from Ligue 1 but he took a while to win over Mikel Arteta, who sent the defender back to France on loan before finally integrating him into his first-team squad. Saliba soon established himself as not only one of the best players at Arsenal but in the Premier League, however, and Desailly says he is now the ‘best centre-back’ in world football. ‘Who do I think is the best centre-back in the world? It’s not Virgil van Dijk,’ ex-Chelsea captain Desailly told Sportscasting. ‘He has his level, we know, there’s no doubt he’s a great defender. ‘But on some occasions, he has shown a little bit of weakness. It’s also probably due to his past injury; in 1v1 situations, he is no longer exceptional like he was before, though he’s still a great player. Arsenal star William Saliba at the World Cup with France (Picture: Getty) ‘I would put William Saliba there, even though he has some problems with his back, I think he’s in the conversation for the world’s best centre back. ‘Saliba is definitely one of the best ones. Gabriel is only there because of Saliba – so Gabriel, no, he’s not in the conversation. ‘Who else can we say? At Manchester United, there’s nothing. Chelsea, not at that level. Inter Milan, AC Milan, absolutely not. Saliba celebrating Arsenal’s title win (Picture: Getty) ‘So I would say Saliba is part of the defensive elite who have that consistency and are capable of winning their 1v1s no matter who comes across them.’ Saliba was heavily linked with Spanish giants Real Madrid before signing a new long-term deal with Arsenal in the summer of 2025. The Frenchman is contracted to the Gunners until 2030 but Desailly still believes he is destined to play for Madrid. Asked whether he expects Saliba to move to the Bernabeu at some point in his career, Desailly added: ‘Yes, yes. I do expect William Saliba to one day wear the colours of Real Madrid. ‘He’s committed to Arsenal for the next, I don’t know, four years. But he’s young, so why not? The door is open, and all the best players want to play for Real Madrid at some point in their careers. ‘The door is open. But not now. Not now. He is the best central defender, so it is what it is today.’ Saliba’s current focus is on France’s World Cup campaign with Didier Deschamps’ side preparing to face Paraguay for a place in the quarter-finals. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

2026-07-02

William Saliba reveals he disagreed with Arsenal transfer decision

William Saliba is starring for France at the World Cup (Picture: Getty) William Saliba has revealed a decision to ignore Arsenal’s transfer advice helped dramatically change the trajectory of his career. The France international joined the Gunners in the summer of 2019 following a £27million move from Saint-Etienne. Saliba had already cemented a reputation as one of Europe’s most promising defenders and, as such, Arsenal were forced to agree that the centre-half could return to hit boyhood club on loan for another season. Upon his return to Arsenal, Saliba found that Unai Emery had been replaced by Mikel Arteta who immediately deemed he was not yet ready for first team Premier League football. Saliba subsequently spent six months at Nice before Arteta and Arsenal were forced to make another decision about his future. Arsenal’s hierarchy at the time decided another loan to a Premier League rival would help get him ready to contend with the unique demands of the English game, but Saliba dug his heels in and argued a year at Marseille would serve him best. ‘Arsenal wanted me to go to Newcastle United or Crystal Palace, but I didn’t want to [do that],’ Saliba told L’Équipe. William Saliba impressed on loan at Marseille before rejoining Arsenal (Picture: Getty) ‘I remember that summer, it was either Lille OSC or Marseille. I was on the verge of joining Lille but there was a financial problem. ‘It was this financial problem that led him to OM. But Saliba admits that there was initially some reticence. ‘Marseille is a big club, but it is scary. ‘It was the season where it was a bit crazy, where the supporters had gone to the Commanderie (OM’s training ground). William Saliba joined Arsenal in the summer of 2019 (Picture: Getty) ‘But, with my agent, we said: ‘Marseille, if you go there and have a good season, it is the team in France and things can move quickly. ‘Jorge Sampaoli really wanted me. I went to Marseille and things moved so quickly. I played almost all of the matches. My value rose again. I started having fun again.’ ‘By March, I was playing my first matches for France. It was an incredible year. I honestly loved Marseille: the supporters, the club, my teammates… football is like that. ‘You build again from the bottom; it’s not a problem. Buckle up. If you do things well, you’ll get back to the top.’

2026-06-25

PSG v Arsenal: six factors that could decide the Champions League final

The brilliance of Kvaratskhelia There is no better player to watch in world football right now than Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, who manages to blend an unorthodox style with the decisive certainty of a winner. At times he was unplayable over the two legs of the semi-final with Bayern Munich and he would have crowned his showreel if, after a dazzling spin and run late in the second leg, he had beaten Manuel Neuer. Arsenal need a plan to deal with the Georgian, who brutally exposed Konrad Laimer and Dayot Upamecano in Munich. He left them both floundering when setting up Ousmane Dembélé’s goal and Arsenal’s one-on-one defending must be immaculate. Will Jurriën Timber be fit in time for the final? It looks doubtful but the Dutchman, who can pocket most opponents, would surely be Mikel Arteta’s best hope of keeping the power and wit of Kvaratskhelia subdued in Budapest. Even then, he came off second best when the pair met in the last four a year ago. Whoever plays at right-back, William Saliba will also need to be on high alert to anticipating danger coming in from the flank. A skittish Safonov Paris Saint-Germain’s performance in Munich was notable for its dead-eyed composure, at least until their goalkeeper got involved. While Matvey Safonov made useful saves from Jamal Musiala and Luis Díaz, his command of the penalty area looked decidedly shaky and can open an obvious door for Arteta’s side. A couple of Safonov’s punches from corners were spectacular but his unwillingness to catch the ball was clear and it is anyone’s guess how he will fare if Arsenal, so adept at crowding out opponents during set pieces, put him under pressure with high balls. One inexplicable decision to parry a lower delivery led directly to the Bayern penalty appeal that left Vincent Kompany exasperated. Safonov is no clown but, in a purring PSG unit, he may be the closest thing to a weak link. Declan Rice’s dominance In Declan Rice, Arsenal have a midfielder with the physical and technical attributes to defy PSG’s attempts to disrupt their buildup. Previews of the final will inevitably focus on the teams’ stylistic differences but control in the middle will remain essential. There were more than enough loose passes in PSG territory during the semi to pique Arteta’s interest. Whether in tandem with Martín Zubimendi or even the revitalised Myles Lewis-Skelly, Rice has the stature to seize the moment in a manner Bayern’s engine room never quite could. Disruption of PSG’s centre-backs “Our mentality is what defines us,” Willian Pacho said on Wednesday night. “The attackers help us a lot and we help them attack. That’s what makes the difference compared to other teams.” The Ecuadorian had just been named man of the match and summed up the difference between this PSG side and its star-studded predecessors. Pacho has forged a monumental partnership with Marquinhos and Arteta will be tasked with deciding which centre-forward would test them the most in Budapest. Viktor Gyökeres, a far more confident player since firing Sweden to the World Cup, was outstanding against Atlético Madrid and would give PSG’s defenders the kind of man-to-man battering they rarely face. Kai Havertz may lure them into more uncomfortable positions but they were rarely caught out in Munich when Harry Kane drifted, even though he eventually pilfered a late goal. If Arteta can pick the right man to trouble PSG’s workaholic pairing, Arsenal could profit richly. Devastating Dembélé Dembélé’s early strike at the Allianz Arena was explosive, devastating and almost impatient. It was the Ballon d’Or winner’s one significant chance of the night and he got the job done. Can he do it once more against an Arsenal backline that has only conceded six times in its 14 Champions League games so far? Given PSG have scored 44 goals – albeit having played twice more in the playoffs – they will fancy their chances, but glimpses of goal may prove fewer than on a typical matchday. Dembélé has been lethal when it matters in this season’s competition, helping see off Chelsea and downing Liverpool at Anfield before his three pivotal semi-final contributions. There is little prospect that PSG will run amok as they did against Inter in last year’s final, but Arsenal will know Dembélé can be decisive if offered the merest sniff. The Barcelona old boys “I appreciate Mikelito Arteta!” exclaimed Luis Enrique after their reunion was guaranteed. The diminutive was no mistake: Arteta is 11 years the PSG manager’s junior but they crossed paths at Barcelona, when Luis Enrique was a senior player and Arteta would train with the first team while turning out for the B side. The two are cut from a similar cloth: both are intense characters dedicated to their craft and who do not mind pumping up an occasion for those watching. They will begin on an equal footing in Budapest and it is a moment Arteta has been waiting for ever since he first sketched detailed dreams of becoming a coach. Outwitting his former clubmate and role model would place him among the best at last.

2026-05-07

PSG v Arsenal: six factors that could decide the Champions League final

The brilliance of Kvaratskhelia There is no better player to watch in world football right now than Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, who manages to blend an unorthodox style with the decisive certainty of a winner. At times he was unplayable over the two legs of the semi-final with Bayern Munich and he would have crowned his showreel if, after a dazzling spin and run late in the second leg, he had beaten Manuel Neuer. Arsenal need a plan to deal with the Georgian, who brutally exposed Konrad Laimer and Dayot Upamecano in Munich. He left them both floundering when setting up Ousmane Dembélé’s goal and Arsenal’s one-on-one defending must be immaculate. Will Jurriën Timber be fit in time for the final? It looks doubtful but the Dutchman, who can pocket most opponents, would surely be Mikel Arteta’s best hope of keeping the power and wit of Kvaratskhelia subdued in Budapest. Even then, he came off second best when the pair met in the last four a year ago. Whoever plays at right-back, William Saliba will also need to be on high alert to anticipating danger coming in from the flank. A skittish Safonov Paris Saint-Germain’s performance in Munich was notable for its dead-eyed composure, at least until their goalkeeper got involved. While Matvey Safonov made useful saves from Jamal Musiala and Luis Díaz, his command of the penalty area looked decidedly shaky and can open an obvious door for Arteta’s side. A couple of Safonov’s punches from corners were spectacular but his unwillingness to catch the ball was clear and it is anyone’s guess how he will fare if Arsenal, so adept at crowding out opponents during set pieces, put him under pressure with high balls. One inexplicable decision to parry a lower delivery led directly to the Bayern penalty appeal that left Vincent Kompany exasperated. Safonov is no clown but, in a purring PSG unit, he may be the closest thing to a weak link. Declan Rice’s dominance In Declan Rice, Arsenal have a midfielder with the physical and technical attributes to defy PSG’s attempts to disrupt their buildup. Previews of the final will inevitably focus on the teams’ stylistic differences but control in the middle will remain essential. There were more than enough loose passes in PSG territory during the semi to pique Arteta’s interest. Whether in tandem with Martín Zubimendi or even the revitalised Myles Lewis-Skelly, Rice has the stature to seize the moment in a manner Bayern’s engine room never quite could. Disruption of PSG’s centre-backs “Our mentality is what defines us,” Willian Pacho said on Wednesday night. “The attackers help us a lot and we help them attack. That’s what makes the difference compared to other teams.” The Ecuadorian had just been named man of the match and summed up the difference between this PSG side and its star-studded predecessors. Pacho has forged a monumental partnership with Marquinhos and Arteta will be tasked with deciding which centre-forward would test them the most in Budapest. Viktor Gyökeres, a far more confident player since firing Sweden to the World Cup, was outstanding against Atlético Madrid and would give PSG’s defenders the kind of man-to-man battering they rarely face. Kai Havertz may lure them into more uncomfortable positions but they were rarely caught out in Munich when Harry Kane drifted, even though he eventually pilfered a late goal. If Arteta can pick the right man to trouble PSG’s workaholic pairing, Arsenal could profit richly. Devastating Dembélé Dembélé’s early strike at the Allianz Arena was explosive, devastating and almost impatient. It was the Ballon d’Or winner’s one significant chance of the night and he got the job done. Can he do it once more against an Arsenal backline that has only conceded six times in its 14 Champions League games so far? Given PSG have scored 44 goals – albeit having played twice more in the playoffs – they will fancy their chances, but glimpses of goal may prove fewer than on a typical matchday. Dembélé has been lethal when it matters in this season’s competition, helping see off Chelsea and downing Liverpool at Anfield before his three pivotal semi-final contributions. There is little prospect that PSG will run amok as they did against Inter in last year’s final, but Arsenal will know Dembélé can be decisive if offered the merest sniff. The Barcelona old boys “I appreciate Mikelito Arteta!” exclaimed Luis Enrique after their reunion was guaranteed. The diminutive was no mistake: Arteta is 11 years the PSG manager’s junior but they crossed paths at Barcelona, when Luis Enrique was a senior player and Arteta would train with the first team while turning out for the B side. The two are cut from a similar cloth: both are intense characters dedicated to their craft and who do not mind pumping up an occasion for those watching. They will begin on an equal footing in Budapest and it is a moment Arteta has been waiting for ever since he first sketched detailed dreams of becoming a coach. Outwitting his former clubmate and role model would place him among the best at last.

2026-05-07

Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta urged to sell two players as £130m double transfer raid planned

Arsenal's eyes are solely on winning a first Premier League title since 2004 this campaign. But when the season comes to an end, the club will no doubt dip their toes into the transfer market . Mikel Arteta welcomed some game-changing new additions last summer, with Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera all signing on the dotted line and entering first-team contention. Piero Hincapie will also make his initial loan spell in north London permanent come the summer. But when the next window arrives, manager Arteta has been prompted to sell two key attackers. Mirror Football brings you the latest from the Emirates. FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news and more on our dedicated Facebook page Former Arsenal defender William Gallas has outlined what he thinks his old club should do in the summer window. The Frenchman thinks both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard should be sold. He told BoyleSports: "When Arsenal play on the counter-attack, I think sometimes the midfielders have to look for Viktor Gyokeres to give him the ball at the first opportunity. "Gyokeres always asks for the ball in front, in the space, but he doesn't get the ball, because the midfielder wants to keep the ball. That is the style of Arsenal. "He has scored goals but he hasn't scored enough goals so he has to reach a minimum 20 goals next season and it will be difficult for him if Arsenal are going to play the same way because he doesn't really dominate the league physically like he did in Portugal. "Maybe you need a left winger because I don't know what has happened to Gabriel Martinelli, he's just not what he was, and Leandro Trossard is a good squad player but you need something else. "When you've got a striker like Gyokeres, you need players to give him the ball to score the goals, and that's why maybe some of Arsenal's style has to change, or Arsenal need to change their striker." Regarding defensive recruits, reports suggest that Sporting CP pair Maxi Araujo and Ivan Fresneda are on the club's radar. Araujo impressed at left-back in the Gunners' recent Champions League tie with Sporting. Fresneda operates on the opposite side of the pitch at right-back, and he too made an impact in a game against Arsenal, playing the full first leg in Portugal and conceding just a single goal. Record reports that Arteta's side have already initiated talks for Araujo, who it is thought could cost roughly £51m, but he does have a £69m release clause in his current deal. The Sun claims that Arsenal are also interested in his team-mate Fresneda, whom the club have reportedly been scouting since his time at Real Valladolid. He, too, has an alleged £69m release clause in his contract.

2026-04-26