Arsenal BOOST as Real Madrid drop ‘Bellingham of defenders’

Arsenal can finally relax as Real Madrid have definitively dropped all interest in star defender William Saliba.

That is according to respected European football journalist Andy Brassell, who reports that Madrid will no longer pursue Saliba.

Saliba has reportedly been Madrid’s dream defensive target for a number of years, with the Blancos viewing the Frenchman as the ‘Bellingham of defenders’.

But the centre back recently signed a new five-year contract with Arsenal and that has now scared Madrid off.

Madrid drop Saliba interest

Brassell says that Madrid still want to sign at least one center back at the end of the season.

But they will not waste their time and energy negotiating for Saliba, who will be very expensive and very difficult to sign.

Instead they are more likely to focus on Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano, whose contracts expire at the end of the season and will be available on a free transfer.

Marca reported earlier this summer that Madrid president Florentino Perez had given the go-ahead for the club to go all-in for the Arsenal defender.

RMC also claimed that Madrid are prepared to make Saliba the most expensive defender in football history.

This would mean Madrid paying more than the €87 million that Man Utd paid for Harry Maguire from Leicester in 2019.

Saliba has been reported to be open to a move to Madrid but it seems Arsenal can now relax that this ytransfer won’t happen.

Saliba has been integral to Arsenal’s progress under Arteta in recent years and is considered by many as the best defender in the Premier League.

He has formed arguably the strongest centre back partnership in England alongside Gabriel.

Saliba at Arsenal

The 24-year-old Saliba joined Arsenal from Saint-Etienne in 2019 for £27 million.

After a series of loans, he established himself as a key player from the 2022-23 season as Arsenal finished runners-up three times in a row in the Premier League.

He has made 142 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals.

Saliba has also become a first-team starter for France over the last year, playing in their journey to the semi-finals of Euro 2024.

He has won 30 caps for France and was also part of their squad for the 2022 World Cup where they reached the final.

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