Arsenal have made their position clear: William Saliba is not for sale, not even in exchange for Real Madrid’s star winger Rodrygo.
Reports from Spain revealed that Real Madrid tried to tempt Arsenal with a blockbuster swap deal that would see Rodrygo join the Gunners while Saliba moved to the Bernabéu. But Arsenal immediately rejected the proposal.
This surprise development has set the football world buzzing. Many fans thought Arsenal would jump at the chance to bring in Rodrygo, especially since Mikel Arteta has been searching for a new winger all summer. Instead, the club sent a strong message, Saliba is untouchable.
Saliba has become one of the most important players in Arsenal’s defense. The French center-back has been central to Arteta’s plans and is seen as part of the club’s long-term project.
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Real Madrid hoped to use Arsenal’s interest in Rodrygo to their advantage. According to Spanish reports, Los Blancos were planning to sign Saliba either for free in 2027 or at a discount in 2026 when his contract would be running down. But they wanted to speed things up with a swap deal.
Arsenal, however, said no immediately. For them, Saliba is a key piece of the puzzle as they aim to challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title and push deeper into the Champions League.
Saliba has already spoken about his future, and his words should calm any worried Arsenal fans.
“For me, I’m really happy here,” he said last season. “I’ve been here for two and a half years now. There is nothing. I’m happy here and I want to continue here.
“I want to win big things with Arsenal. If you leave this club without winning anything, the fans will forget about you. I want to win big things here.”
Asked about a new contract, Saliba responded: “Not yet, because we still have some years to go. So there is no rush at the moment. I’m happy here. That’s it.”
Manager Mikel Arteta also commented recently on Arsenal’s transfer situation, though he chose not to get involved in the rumors.
“I’ll leave that to Edu and the club,” he said before Arsenal’s win over Manchester United. “My main focus is just about performing, preparing the games in the best possible way, and winning. The market has been so active, but now that the season has started, I want to keep my attention on the pitch.”
This shows that while the Arsenal board works on transfers, Arteta only wants his players thinking about results and performance.
The rejection leaves Rodrygo’s future at Real Madrid in doubt. The Brazilian winger has struggled for minutes under new coach Xabi Alonso. Despite his huge talent, he is no longer guaranteed a starting place.
Rodrygo has been linked with Manchester City too. But Pep Guardiola will need to sell before he can buy. That leaves Rodrygo in a tricky situation, especially since he is still under contract until 2028.
Many Arsenal fans have praised the club’s decision. On social media, supporters celebrated the rejection, calling Saliba “irreplaceable” and “the backbone of our defense.”
Some admitted that Rodrygo would have been an exciting signing, but most agreed that keeping Saliba is the priority. Arsenal fans have waited too long for a reliable, world-class defender, and they won’t let him go without a fight.
For Real Madrid, the failed bid shows how serious they were about Saliba. The Spanish giants rarely offer swap deals, preferring straight cash moves. That they were willing to sacrifice Rodrygo says a lot about how highly they rate the Frenchman.
But Madrid’s defense is aging, and they see Saliba as the perfect long-term solution. They may come back with another offer in the future, but for now, Arsenal have closed the door.
The Gunners are still in the market for a winger. Arteta wants more firepower to support Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli. But the club has made it clear, they will not sacrifice their defensive leader to get one.
The transfer window is closing soon, so fans will be watching closely to see who Arsenal eventually bring in.
This decision could prove crucial for Arsenal’s ambitions. Keeping Saliba shows that the club is serious about competing at the very top. It also sends a message to other European giants: Arsenal will not be bullied into selling their stars.
For Real Madrid, it’s back to the drawing board. They may continue to chase Saliba in the future, but they’ll know it won’t be easy.
For now, both clubs are focused on their seasons, but this transfer drama is far from over.
