Tony Cascarino believes Arsenal defender William Saliba is playing at a level worthy of Real Madrid, issuing a warning that the Gunners must win silverware to keep their star player.
Tony Cascarino Warns Arsenal: Saliba Could Be Tempted by Real Madrid
Speaking to talkSPORT, Cascarino highlighted Real Madrid’s growing interest in Saliba and stressed the importance of success to fend off the Spanish giants.
“There are always vultures circling, and there’s no bigger vulture in football than Real Madrid. If they’re after a player, it’s hard to say no,” said Cascarino.
Reports from France have suggested that Madrid has identified the 23-year-old Frenchman as a key target for next summer.
Though Saliba is under contract at Arsenal until 2027, Cascarino thinks that alone won’t be enough to keep him.
“Winning and being successful is the best way to keep players.
Saliba’s playing at the level of a Real Madrid player, but he needs to be convinced Arsenal will be winning trophies, including the Champions League.”
Arsenal have made strides under Mikel Arteta, but the pressure is on to turn their progress into tangible success.
Cascarino believes that without trophies, Saliba could be tempted by the lure of Madrid, a club that’s synonymous with Champions League glory.
He added, “Real Madrid are the kings of Europe, and once they’re interested, Arsenal have a big problem.”
Despite his long-term deal, Cascarino hinted that Arsenal may need to offer another extension to secure Saliba’s future.
“It’s great for Arsenal to have a player of Saliba’s caliber, but they need to show they’re going to be competing for the biggest prizes if they want to keep him.”
