Former Real Madrid transfer target William Saliba just hailed Kylian Mbappé as the toughest opponent he's ever faced.
Yesterday, it was announced (not officially, but by David Ornstein, so everything but officially) that William Saliba would sign a new deal at Arsenal. It is believed that a long-term contract will be signed over the coming days, as he only wanted Arsenal.
So, Real Madrid fans can kiss goodbye to the thought of signing William Saliba. However, they still might want to pay attention to a recent interview, where Saliba was full of praise for current Real Madrid MVP Kylian Mbappé.
William Saliba: Kylian Mbappé was my toughest opponent
When asked by Sky Sports about the toughest forward he's ever faced, William Saliba said, "Mbappé. He can do everything."
It certainly seems that way. Real Madrid fans watching Mbappé this season are in awe of what he can do with the ball at his feet. Saliba is yet to face Mbappé under Alonso, so he might also be surprised by the defensive acumen Mbappé has built up these days, too.
Saliba and Mbappé have a rich history. Of course, they play in the same national team, but before they signed for Arsenal and Real Madrid, they faced off plenty of times in Ligue 1. William Saliba represented Saint-Étienne before joining Arsenal, and it was around the time that Mbappé was playing for Paris Saint-Germain.
Even after leaving the French league, Saliba couldn't get away from his compatriot. Arsenal faced off against Real Madrid twice in Mbappé's debut season and got the better of Los Blancos on both occasions. It's fair to say that Saliba did a pretty good job of keeping Arsenal as Real's bogey team.
The two players will likely be at the epicenter of attention this summer, as France travels to the USA, Canada and Mexico for the 2026 World Cup. Last time in the biggest sports competition in the world, Mbappé scored a hat-trick for France in the final, but it still wasn't enough to win the World Cup.
Saliba and Mbappé have a great friendship when representing France. While it won't be anytime soon, Real Madrid fans hope that agent Kylian can persuade Saliba to fulfil his destiny by joining Los Blancos in the long run.
I mean, there must be a recruiting bonus in Kylian's contract, right? If there isn't, get it done, Florentino.