Gallas says Saliba would be hard-pressed to refuse Real Madrid offer
Former defender argues that Madrid's historical weight still outweighs Arsenal's current success, despite the Frenchman's 2030 contract.
By Sarah Reynolds ·
Arsenal center back William Saliba has secured his future with the club through 2030, yet his former teammate William Gallas insists the Frenchman could still be tempted by Real Madrid.
Saliba joined Arsenal from Saint-Etienne for 27 million pounds in 2019. He subsequently became a cornerstone of the squad that won the Premier League title last season, pairing with Gabriel Magalhaes in defense.
The defender signed a long-term deal in 2025 after persistent links with the Spanish club. Gallas, however, told SeatPick that the magnitude of Real Madrid makes it difficult for any top talent to say no.
"Are Arsenal at a high enough level now that William Saliba would turn down Real Madrid if they came in for him?" Gallas asked. "I know a lot of people will be mad about what I'm going to say right now but if we are talking about the history of both clubs, Real Madrid and Arsenal, then Real Madrid is Real Madrid. They are on a different level."
Gallas emphasized the unique pressure and expectation surrounding the Spanish club. He noted that fans at Madrid demand victories in every match, whether in La Liga or the Champions League. He argued that this atmosphere distinguishes Madrid from other historic clubs like Barcelona and Manchester United.
"For me, even if their performances at the moment are not the best, and even if they haven't won the biggest trophies recently, Madrid is Madrid," Gallas said. "I'm telling you, any player who has the opportunity to go to Madrid, they will try to go there, and you can't blame them. You couldn't blame a player like Saliba if that is his decision."
The former defender viewed Arsenal's current status as part of a rebuilding process. He stated that while the club is on the right track, it remains behind the Spanish giants in terms of recent dominance and historical weight.
"Arsenal and Manchester United? They are still behind Barcelona and Real Madrid, even Manchester United still to this day because they have such a big history," Gallas said. "That's why I think now with clubs like Arsenal, even if they had a good history in the past, what they are doing right now is rebuilding."
Saliba has not played a minute this season due to a back injury sustained at the World Cup. He has recently returned to first-team training and is approaching a full return to action.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said the club has taken careful steps to manage Saliba's workload. "All the preparation has been done to measure all the loads and all the steps that he had to do to minimise that risk," Arteta said. "Now he's in a really good place. He's built the capacity that we needed, and now it's about giving him minutes."
