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Under contract with Arsenal until June 2024, William Saliba (21) was loaned without an option to Olympique de Marseille, which opened the doors to the France team.
Came into play against Côte d’Ivoire (2-1) then started against South Africa (5-0), can dream of World Cup 2022even if he is focused on the end of the season for OM and the objective of qualifying for the next Champions League.
On the eve of a perilous trip to Saint-Etienne, Saliba granted an interview to The Team, in which he talks about his first steps in Blues but also his future. Here are his best statements:
His first cap against Ivory Coast at the Vélodrome
“Yes, when it’s your first match in A, you don’t want to miss it. I’m replacing Varane in the central three. In this position, it’s you who must guide the defense, who must do everything See, you’re the boss. So it’s a lot of responsibility. It’s a lot of emotion too. The public helped me a lot but we had to play simple.”
The C1, the condition to stay at OM?
“Of course it would be better with a qualification in the Champions League. And if I leave without having qualified the club in C1, it would be an unfinished season, I would be disappointed.”
A future at Arsenal?
“They are often in contact with my agent (Djibril Niang). They send me messages. They watch my matches. They tell me to continue like this. I haven’t played much with the Gunners. The coach (Mikel Arteta) made his choices, that’s life. I left on loan, I chained the matches and, thanks to my performances, I became international. What happened to me forged a mental harder. It’s not because you cost 30 M€ that you play. I take it positively. Even if there are times when you ask yourself questions. For six months, I saw that I was the only one of the group not to play, it hurt. (…) I’m sure I can’t just be on the bench at Arsenal and be happy. I want to play as a starter. Afterwards, if I enter the rotation as a substitute is not like staying with the Under-23s and never being in the squad.”
Stay at OM?
“This club and this public are magnificent so I want to make the most of it by the end of the season, as if I’m not going to come back. There are two months left, I want to savor every moment, especially at home. After that, we’ll see. If I come back, it will be with great, great pleasure.”
to summarize
Entered during the game against Côte d’Ivoire (2-1) then holder with the France team against South Africa (5-0), William Saliba (21) is now focusing on the end of the season with Olympique de Marseille. On the eve of a perilous trip to Saint-Etienne, the defender confided in his first steps in Blues and his future.