William Saliba to Real Madrid? Antonio Rudiger risks angering Arsenal fans as he teases future transfer for Gunners star

Saliba has gone from strength to strength since breaking into the Arsenal first team in 2022, and he has been linked with a move to Real by the Spanish press in recent months. Indeed, his performances in a Gunners shirt have seen him earn a reputation as one of the Premier League's top centre-backs, and in 2023-24 he was named in the PFA Team of the Year.

Rudiger has added fuel to the fire by revealing his admiration of Saliba, as well as team-mate Gabriel Magalhaes. He has claimed that both should be considered as among world football's top three centre-backs and hinted that the Frenchman's form could indeed earn him a move to the Spanish capital.

When asked on The Inside Scoop podcast for his top three defenders right now, Rudiger replied: "Saliba, and I like Gabriel from Arsenal as well.

"If you see Arsenal, like the two centre-backs who are playing together, they are doing since two years now, they're doing an amazing job.

"Like the transformation from Arsenal, that was a bit before and now, and those two are the pillar of it. You have with Gabriel the more aggressive leader and for example Saliba is, this brother plays clean. No, really, you have to give it to him. You know, he looks like a silent leader."

Rudiger was then jokingly told 'not to scare Arsenal fans' with 'that Real Madrid knock', to which he said: "I am not scaring anybody but at the end of the day, it's clear, if he keeps doing what he's doing..."

Saliba is in line to start Arsenal's Premier League clash at home to Southampton on Saturday, before jetting off to link up with the French national team for their October UEFA Nations League fixtures. Rudiger, meanwhile, will face Villarreal with Real Madrid in La Liga prior to Germany's own upcoming Nations League games.