100 million euros cannot buy Saliba

At the age of 24, Saliba is already ranked among the world's top central defenders.

Arsenal, under the leadership of coach Mikel Arteta, are determined to build a "steel wall" around the French player in the face of Real Madrid's attention.

Real Madrid are known for their transfer-shaking deals. They have recruited outstanding central defenders such as Sergio Ramos and Eder Militão to form a famous defense. But when they turned their attention to Saliba, the Spanish Royal team encountered a wall even tougher than on the pitch - that was Arsenal's unwavering determination.

At 24, Saliba is already among the world’s top centre-backs, on par with Cubarsi (18, Barcelona) and Bastoni (26, Inter Milan), each valued at around €80 million. However, for Arsenal, that figure is just the starting point. “Even €100 million is not enough to open the door for Saliba,” is the message that Arteta and the Arsenal board have sent.

When Arsenal spent 30 million euros to recruit Saliba from Saint-Etienne in 2019, many people thought it was a gamble. Saliba was still just a potential talent, lacking experience.

But Arteta patiently let him “harden” through loan spells at Nice and Marseille. When he returned to the Premier League, Saliba not only proved himself worthy, but also became the most modern centre-back - strong, intelligent, and extremely confident on the ball.

What makes Saliba different is its incredible stability.

What sets Saliba apart is his incredible consistency. He rarely gets injured, maintaining a high level of form throughout the season. His brilliance was most evident in the 2024/25 Champions League, when he shut down Real Madrid’s attack in the quarter-finals, except for a lapse in position against Vinicius.

Saliba is not just a player, he is also the image of the ambition Arsenal are pursuing in the Arteta era. The club has proactively extended his contract and increased his salary to over €11 million per season in 2023. That figure may not be on par with attacking stars like Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Rice, Odegaard or Saka, but it is clear that Arsenal are putting Saliba at the heart of their long-term plans.

In fact, Arsenal is no longer the “cautious spender” it once was. From Rice to Havertz, from Raya to Timber, all demonstrate a grand strategy: to build a squad strong enough to compete on equal terms with Man City and the European giants. Saliba is the solid “foundation brick” for that ambition.

Coach Arteta once affirmed: "I am sure William will stay, because he is very happy here". For Arteta, Saliba is not only a good center-back but also someone who brings absolute peace of mind to his ball possession and high pressing style of play. Arsenal understands that losing Saliba is like losing half of their defensive strength.

Despite Saliba having just two years left on his contract, Arsenal are not worried. On the contrary, they are planning to negotiate a super-long term contract, to keep him at the Emirates during the peak of his career.

William Saliba is not only the best central defender in the Premier League today, but also a symbol of Arsenal's aspirations to reach European level. When Real Madrid were forced to retreat, it was not only a victory in the transfer market but also an affirmation: Arsenal are now ready to protect their "priceless assets".

Source: https://znews.vn/100-trieu-euro-khong-mua-duoc-saliba-post1571768.html