Kylian Mbappe Praises Arsenal’s William Saliba as One of Premier League’s Best
Kylian Mbappe has praised Arsenal star William Saliba, calling him “one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League” and insisting he has “all the qualities” to start for France at Euro 2024. Saliba’s impressive performances for the Gunners have earned him a spot in France’s Euros squad, though he currently ranks behind Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano and Liverpool’s Ibrahim Konate in Didier Deschamps’ lineup.
France aims to secure their third European Championship title in Germany, continuing their stellar performance in recent major tournaments. Deschamps’ team won the World Cup in 2018 and narrowly missed consecutive titles in Qatar, losing to Lionel Messi’s Argentina in a penalty shootout.
Saliba’s Journey from Bondy to Les Bleus
Kylian Mbappe, who attended school with Saliba in the Paris suburbs, has closely followed his career. The two played football together during school breaks, despite being in different grades. Speaking to Ouest-France “I have known him since he was very, very young,” Kylian Mbappe said, noting their shared history at AS Bondy, where Mbappe’s father coached Saliba.
Saliba’s development at Arsenal has been remarkable, with Mbappe observing, “This season, he has become a very important player for Arsenal and is among the best centre-backs in the Premier League.” Mbappe believes Saliba has the potential to be a starter for France, adding, “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.”
France’s Euro 2024 Campaign
Saliba’s strong performances for Arsenal, particularly his partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes, have been crucial in the Gunners’ recent Premier League title challenges. As France begins their Euro 2024 campaign against Austria, they will also face Group D rivals Netherlands and Poland, aiming to advance to the knockout stages.
Reflecting on Saliba’s journey, Mbappe said, “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.” The bond between the two players is evident, with Mbappe humorously noting, “There is no taboo between us and we tease each other. For example, I often tell him that he wants to be the star of Bondy, but that it will never happen!”
