Real Madrid have three centre-backs in mind but William Saliba was never one of them

William Saliba staying at Arsenal amid interest from Real Madrid wasn’t a surprise – they don’t roll out the red carpet for defenders. That is the verdict from European football broadcaster Andy Brassell, who believes three other centre-backs are better value for money. Mikel Arteta was overjoyed to tie down Saliba for his peak yearsGetty Los Blancos manager Xabi Alonso made revamping the club’s defence his primary objective in the transfer market last summer. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen and Álvaro Carreras all arrived in Spain, but another centre-back remains high on the wish list. Reports in Saliba’s homeland emerged earlier this year that the Frenchman was a priority target for Real Madrid. However, the 24-year-old ended the debate surrounding his long-term future by signing a new contract with Arsenal late last month. When asked if that news came as a surprise to those in Madrid, Brassell told talkSPORT.com: “Well, if we look historically at the sort of players that the red carpet’s really rolled out for, it’s not defenders – However good they are. “I remember Patrick Vieira almost went to Real Madrid in 2004, and he turned around afterwards and said, his heart made him stay at Arsenal. “I think the fact that Florentino Perez said to him he wasn’t going to pay him on the same level as the Galacticos probably played into it as well. “I’m not accusing Vieira of any avarice or anything like that, but with football, it’s never really just about the money. It’s about the respect that that money implies. And clearly, that was something that he couldn’t get over. “He probably looked and thought, well, yeah, okay, I could be the next Claude Makélélé, but not in a good way — undervalued, underappreciated by the people in the boardroom. “Obviously, Makélélé was loved by his teammates, but didn’t feel as if he was getting enough love from the board. And that’s what really provoked his move to Chelsea. “But the Saliba thing is, it’s not a massive surprise.” Mbappe, in contrast, was officially unveiled as a Madrid player in a presentation at Santiago Bernabeu StadiumGetty Madrid rolls out the red carpet for attacking stars like Cristiano RonaldoAFP Saliba to Real Madrid link overplayed Upon signing his new Arsenal deal, Saliba admitted he feels the club are well-placed to push on, which was a key factor in him staying. Brassell added: “It’s not a massive surprise. One, because he’s been doing great at Arsenal. “Two, because it always kind of felt that the interest, to what extent it was firm interest, I’m not quite sure. “I sense that Saliba’s agents were thickening it up a bit to accelerate negotiations with Arsenal. “But more recently, the reason that Saliba to Real Madrid hasn’t seemed like a goer is because of the freebies that are on the market going forward.” Real Madrid target Guehi, Upamecano and Konate on free transfers The La Liga giants have identified a trio of defensive reinforcements, with Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba in the final year of their deals. The pair were both success stories of Madrid’s free agent strategy, which also saw them finally land Kylian Mbappe. It all but paid dividends in their pursuit of Alexander-Arnold as well, albeit the club ended up paying an £8.4million fee to get him early. Konate is close friends with France teammate MbappeGetty His former Liverpool teammate, Ibrahima Konate, could now follow him to the Bernabeu to link-up with another close friend, Mbappe. The defender has entered the final year of his deal at Anfield and can sign a pre-contract agreement with overseas clubs in January. Ironically, Marc Guehi, who saw a £35m switch to Liverpool fall through on deadline day, has been named another Madrid target. Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has admitted the England star will leave the club after deciding not to renew his contract, which expires in June 2026. Konate’s compatriot Dayot Upamecano has also caught Madrid’s attention due to his similar contract situation at Bayern Munich. Guehi is becoming an increasingly attractive option for Real MadridGetty Madrid wishlist better value for money “I struggle to believe all three because I think we look at Real Madrid’s wage bill and they’ve brought it down significantly in the last five to six years,” Brassell continued. “There are some big earners who have left, and they’ve set limits on what they wanna pay people. Of course, Kylian Mbappe took a pay cut to go to Real Madrid. “I think if you could take, say, even two of those three, of Guehi, Upamecano and Konate, why would you go out and engage in a really tough transfer battle with Arsenal? “You just wouldn’t do it, would you? I think you’re getting better value for money elsewhere, and value for money actually really matters to Real Madrid in the modern world.”

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Real Madrid have three centre-backs in mind but William Saliba was never one of them

William Saliba staying at Arsenal amid interest from Real Madrid wasn’t a surprise – they don’t roll out the red carpet for defenders.

That is the verdict from European football broadcaster Andy Brassell, who believes three other centre-backs are better value for money.

Mikel Arteta was overjoyed to tie down Saliba for his peak years

Los Blancos manager Xabi Alonso made revamping the club’s defence his primary objective in the transfer market last summer.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen and Álvaro Carreras all arrived in Spain, but another centre-back remains high on the wish list.

Reports in Saliba’s homeland emerged earlier this year that the Frenchman was a priority target for Real Madrid.

However, the 24-year-old ended the debate surrounding his long-term future by signing a new contract with Arsenal late last month.

When asked if that news came as a surprise to those in Madrid, Brassell told talkSPORT.com: “Well, if we look historically at the sort of players that the red carpet’s really rolled out for, it’s not defenders – However good they are.

“I remember Patrick Vieira almost went to Real Madrid in 2004, and he turned around afterwards and said, his heart made him stay at Arsenal.

“I think the fact that Florentino Perez said to him he wasn’t going to pay him on the same level as the Galacticos probably played into it as well.

“I’m not accusing Vieira of any avarice or anything like that, but with football, it’s never really just about the money. It’s about the respect that that money implies. And clearly, that was something that he couldn’t get over.

“He probably looked and thought, well, yeah, okay, I could be the next Claude Makélélé, but not in a good way — undervalued, underappreciated by the people in the boardroom.

“Obviously, Makélélé was loved by his teammates, but didn’t feel as if he was getting enough love from the board. And that’s what really provoked his move to Chelsea.

“But the Saliba thing is, it’s not a massive surprise.”

Mbappe, in contrast, was officially unveiled as a Madrid player in a presentation at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

Madrid rolls out the red carpet for attacking stars like Cristiano Ronaldo

Saliba to Real Madrid link overplayed

Upon signing his new Arsenal deal, Saliba admitted he feels the club are well-placed to push on, which was a key factor in him staying.

Brassell added: “It’s not a massive surprise. One, because he’s been doing great at Arsenal.

“Two, because it always kind of felt that the interest, to what extent it was firm interest, I’m not quite sure.

“I sense that Saliba’s agents were thickening it up a bit to accelerate negotiations with Arsenal.

“But more recently, the reason that Saliba to Real Madrid hasn’t seemed like a goer is because of the freebies that are on the market going forward.”

Real Madrid target Guehi, Upamecano and Konate on free transfers

The La Liga giants have identified a trio of defensive reinforcements, with Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba in the final year of their deals.

The pair were both success stories of Madrid’s free agent strategy, which also saw them finally land Kylian Mbappe.

It all but paid dividends in their pursuit of Alexander-Arnold as well, albeit the club ended up paying an £8.4million fee to get him early.

Konate is close friends with France teammate Mbappe

His former Liverpool teammate, Ibrahima Konate, could now follow him to the Bernabeu to link-up with another close friend, Mbappe.

The defender has entered the final year of his deal at Anfield and can sign a pre-contract agreement with overseas clubs in January.

Ironically, Marc Guehi, who saw a £35m switch to Liverpool fall through on deadline day, has been named another Madrid target.

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has admitted the England star will leave the club after deciding not to renew his contract, which expires in June 2026.

Konate’s compatriot Dayot Upamecano has also caught Madrid’s attention due to his similar contract situation at Bayern Munich.

Guehi is becoming an increasingly attractive option for Real Madrid

Madrid wishlist better value for money

“I struggle to believe all three because I think we look at Real Madrid’s wage bill and they’ve brought it down significantly in the last five to six years,” Brassell continued.

“There are some big earners who have left, and they’ve set limits on what they wanna pay people. Of course, Kylian Mbappe took a pay cut to go to Real Madrid.

“I think if you could take, say, even two of those three, of Guehi, Upamecano and Konate, why would you go out and engage in a really tough transfer battle with Arsenal?

“You just wouldn’t do it, would you? I think you’re getting better value for money elsewhere, and value for money actually really matters to Real Madrid in the modern world.”