France superstar Kylian Mbappe has showered praise on Arsenal defender William Saliba following his performances in the just concluded 2023/24 season.
Arsenal failed to win the Premier League, losing out to Manchester City but they ensured the winner was decided on the final day.
William Saliba played a huge role in Arsenal’s quest to win the league and he’s currently ranked among the best defenders in the world.
Mbappe who recently joined Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain has now spoken about Saliba whom he once played with as a youngster.
William Saliba salutes Kylian Mbappe, left Eduardo Camavinga of France following the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying round group D match between France and Republic of Ireland (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
Speaking to Ouest-France, Mbappe said: “I have known him since he was very, very young. We were in the same primary school in Bondy. We played football together on our breaks, even though we weren’t in the same year, but he asked to play with us. We allowed it because he was already big!
“Then, my dad trained him at AS Bondy. I am three years older than him so I saw him grow up by following his journey and his games closely. Seeing him in the national team, going from Bondy to Les Bleus, made me really happy. I tried to integrate him into the group as quickly as possible
“This season, he has become a very important player for Arsenal and is among the best centre-backs in the Premier League. He is starting to get minutes with us. It’s now up to him to find his place.
“For me, he has all the qualities to, in time, be a starter with Les Bleus.”
Mbappe and Saliba grew up together as kids in Bondy, France. They went to the same primary school at the time.
The Real Madrid star’s father was Saliba’s coach back then, and they played together all the time. Both players will now be eager to win Euro 2024 with the France national team.
