Setelah melewati masa pinjaman yang sukses di OGC Nice dan Olympique Marseille, Saliba bertransformasi menjadi salah satu bek elite dunia di bawah asuhan Mikel Arteta dan kini menatap ambisi besar di Piala Dunia.

Seorang teman dekat Saliba menilai bahwa masa-masa sulit itu penting bagi perkembangannya.

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"I think that period was important for him. Will was a child.

He didn’t have the maturity for that world. But would he be the player he is today without those six months?

I don’t know," kata teman dekat Saliba.

Meskipun menganggap dirinya sebagai salah satu bek terbaik dunia, Saliba tetap membumi dan menyadari bahwa popularitasnya berbeda dengan para penyerang bintang di tim nasional.

"Trophies are what make people remember you. Football is a team sport.

I’m still missing the big titles, and once I’ve got those, it’ll be even better.

I believe I am one of the best defenders in the world," kata William Saliba.

Saliba juga menambahkan bahwa dirinya sangat bahagia dengan posisinya saat ini sebagai pemain belakang meskipun perhatian anak-anak biasanya lebih tertuju pada pencetak gol.

"God decided I’d be a centre-back, and I’m very happy with that.

When you’re a kid, you tend to watch the strikers more - the ones who score, who make the decisive passes; they’re the ones who get you most excited.

If I’d been able to, I’d have been a striker and scored 30 goals a season.

I’m not a star like Mbappé or Dembélé, but in my position I’m one of the best," kata William Saliba.