William Saliba has credited Kylian Mbappe’s dad with helping to transform him into the dominant defender he is today.
The Frenchman was a key part of Arsenal’s starting line-up last season, forming a successful partnership with Gabriel at centre-back.
Their defensive performances helped the Gunners to mount a surprise title challenge against Manchester City in the Premier League.
In fact, it was Saliba’s season-ending injury against Sporting Lisbon in March which many credit with derailing the Gunners’ attempt to end their long wait for a title.
But heading into last summer, it appeared that Saliba would be departing the Emirates Stadium.
Saliba had been struggling to convince boss Mikel Arteta that he could be a long-term option in defence.
Instead, he was sent out on a series of loans to Ligue 1, where he impressed with Marseille.
His time at the Orange Velodrome helped to convince Arteta to give him a chance.
It was a chance he took with both arms, becoming one of the best defenders in the Premier League last term.
That is a far cry from his younger days, when he actually played as a striker for AS Bondy.
And Saliba has credited Mbappe’s father Wilfried for convincing him to switch position to centre-back.
“He was a good coach and he really helped me at this age… he told the truth – even if you were young.
The message he told me was: ‘Yeah, you’re a good striker but I think you will become a defensive midfielder’,” the Arsenal star told the Daily Mail.
“I was a good scorer, I was strong, I was technical as well. My worst quality was maybe that I was lazy and I was nonchalant.
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.”
William Saliba has come a long way from his days as a striker for AS Bondy. Thanks to the guidance of Kylian Mbappe’s father, Wilfried, he made the switch to centre-back and never looked back.
His transformation into a top defender was evident last season when he formed a solid partnership with Gabriel at Arsenal. The duo’s performances at the back played a key role in the Gunners’ title challenge against Manchester City in the Premier League.
However, Saliba’s journey to success was not without its challenges. After struggling to convince Mikel Arteta of his defensive capabilities, he was loaned out to Marseille in Ligue 1. It was during his time there that he caught the eye of Arteta and earned a second chance at Arsenal.
Reflecting on his development, Saliba acknowledges the role that Wilfried Mbappe played in shaping his career. The former striker turned defender admits that he had to overcome his laziness and nonchalant attitude to reach his current level.
Looking ahead, Saliba is determined to continue improving and eventually become the best defender in the world. His dedication and hard work have already placed him among the top defenders in the Premier League, and the sky is the limit for this young talent.
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