William Saliba has confirmed he’ll return to Arsenal this season and is determined to show the club and supporters his ‘true face’.
Having impressed for Marseille during his year-long loan spell, there has been much speculation about what the 21-year-old will do next.
Despite Mikel Arteta making it clear he wants the defender back at the Emirates, plenty of reports have surfaced in recent weeks linking him with various big-name clubs.
His latest comments should kill off the speculation once and for all.
“I belong to Arsenal, I still have two years left,” he told Telefoot.
“I will be back with Arsenal. I have played zero matches and I still want to show them my true face and have the chance to play for these fans and this great club.
“J’appartiens à Arsenal, il me reste encore deux ans. Je serais à la reprise avec Arsenal. J’ai fait zéro match et j’ai quand même envie de leur montrer mon vrai visage et d’avoir la chance de jouer pour ces supporters et ce grand club.”
Saliba sur son avenir @JulienMaynard pic.twitter.com/PpkmH8k1Va
— Téléfoot (@telefoot_TF1) June 5, 2022
Voted Ligue 1’s Young Player of the Year after playing nearly every game of Marseille’s season, and having been promoted to the France senior squad, it’s been a very productive 12 months for the youngster.
Reflecting on his year at the Stade Velodrome, he said: “It’s my first full season. I was keen to show who I really am. It’s a very positive assessment and really I’m very happy with my season.”
“It’s as if I stayed at least two to three years, it’s really special.
“Even if I don’t come back to Marseille, I’ll never forget. Thanks to Marseille, I spent a great course in my career and it was they who boosted me.”
“C’est comme si j’étais resté au moins 2-3 ans, c’est vraiment spécial. Même si je ne reviens pas à Marseille, je n’oublierai jamais. Grâce à l’OM, j’ai passé un grand cap dans ma carrière et c’est eux qui m’ont boosté.”
William Saliba sur son attachement à l’OM @JulienMaynard pic.twitter.com/zcsEACX2C8
— Téléfoot (@telefoot_TF1) June 5, 2022
Having racked up a few caps for Les Bleus, it’s also clear that Saliba has his sights on being part of his country’s squad for the upcoming World Cup.
“I went into a locker room that won the Champions League, the World Cup. You see players you followed when you were little. And now you’re in the same locker room as them, you train with them, you play with them.
“When you taste this feeling, you don’t want to do without it anymore, so I’m going to work very very very hard to be called back as many times as possible.
“When you’re in the France team, you want to be there. It’s a goal.”
Alongside his return to Arsenal, it is expected that Saliba will be offered a new contract on improved terms.
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