Juni Calafat feels betrayed, goodbye to Madrid after almost securing him for 2026

Real Madrid has suffered a major setback in its future planning. Myles Lewis-Skelly, one of the most promising young footballers in English soccer, is about to renew his contract with Arsenal and move definitively away from the Spanish club, which had set its sights on him to strengthen its left flank in 2026.

Juni Calafat, head of international scouting at Real Madrid, had been working for months on bringing him in. Everything seemed to be on track. There were contacts, mutual interest, and a defined strategy, but the story has ended with an unexpected rejection.

Arsenal secures him with a historic contract

The 'Gunner' club has decided to make a move and secure the future of its great gem. Lewis-Skelly will sign a new long-term contract, with historic figures for a footballer of his age.

The midfielder will become one of the highest-paid teenagers in the world. He'll even surpass the contract that Cesc Fàbregas signed with Arsenal in 2006.

People in London are delighted. They've managed to keep a player who has already shown he's ready for the top level. Mikel Arteta has used him ahead of names like Zinchenko or Calafiori.

The message coming from his camp is clear: "He never thought about leaving. The Real Madrid thing didn't keep us up at night".

Calafat didn't expect it

The decision by the player hasn't gone down well at the Valdebebas offices. The work was done, or at least that's what they thought.

Juni Calafat had been following him for over a year and had marked him as a priority to strengthen the left back position in the medium term.

There were reports, meetings, and detailed monitoring. The plan was clear: bring him in in 2026, when his current contract expired. But Lewis-Skelly has decided otherwise.

With his renewal, Arsenal sends a message to Europe. They want to build from the ground up. They want to avoid what they couldn't achieve in other years: keeping their best talents.

Real Madrid, despite its efforts, is left without one of the most promising names in English soccer. It's an unexpected blow for Calafat, and a clear victory for Arsenal.