Gallas Says Saliba Would be Difficult to Keep from Real Madrid

Former Arsenal defender William Gallas has said the club should not blame William Saliba if the French centre-back decides to join Real Madrid, insisting that the Spanish giants remain on a different level in terms of history and prestige.

Gallas made the remarks during an interview with SeatPick, where he discussed whether Arsenal had reached a level where their key players would turn down an opportunity to join Real Madrid.

He acknowledged that his comments might upset Arsenal supporters but maintained that the difference in the clubs' histories and expectations could influence a player's decision.

“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,” he said.

Gallas argued that the pressure surrounding Real Madrid was considerably greater, with supporters expecting the team to win every match and compete for major honours each season.

He added that the Spanish club's appeal remained strong despite its recent performances, saying players would be attracted by the opportunity to represent a club with such a distinguished history.

“Madrid is Madrid, and 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,” he added.

The former defender also placed Barcelona and Real Madrid ahead of Arsenal and Manchester United in terms of global football stature, while acknowledging the progress Arsenal had made under manager Mikel Arteta.

He described the English club as being in a rebuilding phase, working to establish a new chapter in its history.

Saliba, 25, joined Arsenal from Saint-Etienne in 2019 and has developed into a key figure in the club's defence. He signed a contract extension in 2025 that keeps him at the Emirates Stadium until 2030.

The defender has been recovering from a back injury that has kept him out of action this season. However, Arteta recently confirmed that he had made good progress and was approaching a return to competitive football.

Saliba was named among the substitutes for Arsenal's 2-1 Champions League victory over Slavia Prague on Wednesday, although he did not feature in the match.