William Saliba credits Kylian Mbappe’s father with helping on the path to becoming one of the world’s most accomplished centre-backs.
Saliba has been a revelation since breaking into the Arsenal first-team picture under boss Mikel Arteta last season.
5
5
The defender appeared to be surplus to requirements at the Emirates Stadium after his £27million move from Saint-Etienne in 2019.
However, an eye-catching loan move to Marseille in the 2021/22 season helped relaunch his career in north London as he played a leading role in the Gunners’ unsuccessful title bid.
But Saliba’s rise to prominence began in the Parisian suburb of Bondy, under the watchful eye of coach Wilfried Mbappe who he claims as an important figure during his developmental years where he played as a striker for local side AS Bondy.
“He was a good coach and he really helped me at this age… he told the truth – even if you were young,” Saliba told The Mail.
“The message he told me was: ‘Yeah, you’re a good striker but I think you will become a defensive midfielder’,” the Arsenal star recalled.
“I was a good scorer, I was strong, I was technical as well,” said the 22-year-old.
“My worst quality was maybe that I was lazy and I was nonchalant.”
Saliba’s transition from striker to centre-back was helped by another Premier League defender and one who Saliba still study’s today.
5
5
5
“I still watch him” the Frenchman says of Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk.
“I really like his quality in one-against-one, his calmness, his composure and his long balls as well. He has everything and, for me, he was a good defender to learn from… I think he was – for two or three years – the best defender in the world.”
Despite his meteoric rise over the past 12 months, Saliba is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.
But he quietly believes he has the attributes to be the best in the world in his position.
“Of course I have the quality, but that means nothing,” he says.
“You have to work hard to go to this level. So I’m not close to this level but I will give everything to maybe one day become the best defender in the world.”
