Florentino Pérez wants to leave everything tied up in what will be his last presidency at the helm of Real Madrid. He doesn't want to leave any loose ends and hopes that his successor will inherit a debt-free team, with a self-sustaining stadium and a top-level squad, having both present and future. In this regard, one of Florentino's major objectives is focused on strengthening the defensive line, where a major signing is needed, having already decided on the top choice.
We are talking about William Saliba, Arsenal's center-back. At 23 years old, Saliba is the best in the world in his position. He has a contract there until 2027 and it seems that a long-term plan is being prepared with him.
This has been revealed by the deputy director of Marca, Carlos Carpio, on Rubén Martín's Twitch channel. He has been blunt, revealing the interest and planning that Real Madrid has made to secure Saliba's signing at a more economical price.
"Real Madrid wants William Saliba"
Carlos Carpio has been clear, making public the roadmap that Florentino has. "Real Madrid wants William Saliba for the summer of 2026, because he would have one year left on his contract. With Arsenal, they see it possible to get a reasonable price," he reported.
Meanwhile, Carpio continued explaining: "They haven't told me definitively, but they say it would be a way."
William Saliba: Florentino Pérez's next Top Tier Player
Despite Asencio's emergence, changes are needed in defense. David Alaba is 32 years old and Rüdiger 31. Both end their contracts in 2026, so they could leave Real Madrid sooner rather than later.
There's also the case of Eder Militão. Having suffered two serious injuries in recent years, he sees his future in soccer as uncertain.
For all these reasons, at Real Madrid, signing a central defender is considered a priority, with William Saliba being the chosen one. It won't be easy: he is valued at around 80 million euros and Arsenal doesn't want to sell him. At 23 years old, he has a contract there until 2027 and is clear that he won't force a departure.
William Saliba is highly regarded and contact with him is expected to begin in the coming months. The idea is to try to see what his availability is and if he would want to play at Real Madrid.
Florentino plays with an important card: the figure of Mbappé. Both born in Bondy, they maintain a good friendship and would love to share a team.
It's still early, but Florentino Pérez has outlined the plan at Real Madrid, with William Saliba as the next big target.