YOUTH
William Saliba Overcomes Tragedy to Return to Arsenal
William Saliba (25) is slated to start for France in the World Cup opener against Senegal in East Rutherford on Tuesday night. The Arsenal centre‑back’s rise follows a turbulent period after his €30m transfer from Saint‑Étienne in 2020.
Saliba arrived in London after the 2020 Ligue 1 season was halted by COVID‑19, lacking fitness and carrying extra weight. His sub‑par pre‑season displays raised concerns among Arsenal staff.
When he was 19, Saliba’s mother died, a loss he kept largely private. Fabio Frasconi, who coached Saliba at Bondy, said most players in that situation would quit. Former Nottingham Forest midfielder Ateef Konaté, a childhood friend, described the year as “the worst year of my life” for Saliba.
France, boosted by Kylian Mbappé, beats Senegal 3-1 at World Cup
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told Saliba he was not in the short‑term plans for the 2020‑21 Premier League campaign. Consequently Saliba spent the season with Arsenal’s U23 side and was omitted from the Europa League squad. Agent Djibril Niang recalled that Saliba’s low mood stemmed from both sporting setbacks and personal grief. In January 2021 Saliba secured a loan move to OGC Nice, where he regained form. The following season he featured regularly for Marseille, impressing observers. A close friend noted that the difficult period was pivotal for his development. The story was reported by Bastien Cheval.