French icon backs Arsenal star Saliba for future Real Madrid move: ‘The door is open’

French icon backs Arsenal star Saliba for future Real Madrid move: ‘The door is open’ Former France international Marcel Desailly believes Arsenal star William Saliba has all the qualities to one day play for Real Madrid, describing the Spanish giants as a destination that every elite player dreams of reaching. Speaking to Sports Casting (via Mundo Deportivo ), the former defender was asked directly about the possibility of the Arsenal centre-back joining the Madrid club in the future. Desailly: “The Door Is Open” Desailly was full of praise for the 25-year-old Saliba, who is currently representing France at the World Cup. “I hope William Saliba will one day wear the Real Madrid shirt. He has a contract with Arsenal for the next, I don’t know, four years,” said Desailly. Saliba is regarded as one of the best in Europe. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images) “But he’s young, so why not? The door is open, and all the best players want to play for Real Madrid at some point in their career,” he added. Not an Immediate Move Despite his admiration for Saliba, Desailly stressed that he does not expect a transfer to happen in the near future. “The door is open. But not now. Not now. He’s the best center back, so things are as they are today,”  Desailly stated. The former defender believes Saliba has the profile to succeed at Real Madrid one day, but considers the Arsenal star settled in North London for the time being. A long-time target for Real Madrid It is no secret that Saliba is a player that Real Madrid have admired for quite some time now . Real Madrid admire Saliba. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images For Premier League) The French centre-back’s name had been doing the rounds as a potential target for Los Blancos last summer, but his renewal at Arsenal has quelled the speculations for now. Real Madrid do remain on the lookout for a new central defender this summer despite having signed Saliba’s compatriot, Ibrahima Konate, this summer as a free agent. However, any move for the Arsenal star, who has established himself as one of Europe’s most highly regarded defenders, seems highly improbable this summer. Instead, Jose Mourinho & co. seem to have identified Inter Milan ace Alessandro Bastoni as their primary defensive target .