William Saliba has disclosed that Arsenal urged him to join Premier League rivals Newcastle United or Crystal Palace when he was out of favour at the club, before a loan move to Marseille resurrected his career. The centre-half, now regarded as one of Europe's best defenders, was signed by former Gunners boss Unai Emery but never played under him. By the time Saliba arrived in north London, Mikel Arteta was in charge, and the young defender found himself sidelined.
Saliba's Refusal to Join Premier League Rivals
Saliba was so out of favour that he returned to France on loan to Nice, where he became a regular. After that season, Arsenal told him not to report for pre-season as they sought another club. The Gunners wanted him to move to a fellow Premier League outfit, but Saliba refused. He told L'Equipe: “Arsenal wanted me to go to Newcastle United or Crystal Palace, but I didn’t want to [do that].”
The Marseille Pivot
Instead, Saliba faced a choice between Lille and Marseille. Financial issues at Lille led him to Marseille despite initial reluctance. He said: “Marseille is a big club, but it is scary. It was the season where it was a bit crazy, where the supporters had gone to the Commanderie (OM’s training ground). But, with my agent, we said: ‘Marseille, if you go there and have a good season, it is the team in France and things can move quickly.'”
Jorge Sampaoli, then Marseille manager, strongly desired Saliba. “Jorge Sampaoli really wanted me. I went to Marseille and things moved so quickly. I played almost all of the matches. My value rose again. I started having fun again,” Saliba added.
Rapid Rise to Stardom
“By March, I was playing my first matches for France. It was an incredible year. I honestly loved Marseille: the supporters, the club, my teammates… football is like that. You build again from the bottom; it’s not a problem. Buckle up. If you do things well, you’ll get back to the top.”
When Saliba returned from Marseille, he was thrust straight into Arsenal's starting XI and has been a mainstay for the last four seasons. He now forms a partnership with Gabriel that is widely considered the best in Europe.
