William Saliba is fully committed to France’s efforts to do better than in 2022 and win the North American World Cup, but is still calculating how much Arsenal’s season will cost.
William Saliba got honest about his fitness level (Image: FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images)
Like Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, William Saliba is also feeling the effects of Arsenal’s Premier League title-winning season. He has already accepted that he will have to put himself on the line if he is to lead France to World Cup glory.
Saliba, who has been suffering from back problems, explained at Les Bleus’ Boston base: “I had a little bit of pain for a few months. I was gritting my teeth because we had the Champions League and the Premier League. But the coaching staff are dealing with it very well.”
“The World Cup only comes around once every four years, so we have to grit our teeth. I’m not 100 percent, but there are a lot of players who aren’t 100 percent. There are no excuses.”
Thankfully for Saliba, there is enough quality on the other side of the field to get France through. Captain Kylian Mbappé scored two goals, including a stunning goal in stoppage time, to help defeat Senegal, while Arsenal transfer target Bradley Barcola also scored against New Jersey.
Get the latest 2026 World Cup news in your inbox with our Make Football Great Again newsletter
But it wasn’t just the scorers that drew attention. The charming Michael Olise also shines, and his stock continues to soar with each match.
Real Madrid released a statement on Saturday confirming that, contrary to reports, they have not discussed personal terms with Oliseh’s agent. It felt like a desperate effort to maintain ties with Bayern Munich for a future move.
Saliba wants Olise to keep both feet firmly on the ground after being compared to a string of French legends. “He is a star, but he has a lot to achieve before he can be compared to (Zinedine) Zidane or (Michel) Platini,” he said.
Michael Olisse is one of France’s star players (Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
“He can do everything on the pitch. That’s what I want him to be. He’s world class. He can dribble, he can shoot, and when he needs to shoot, he shoots. When he dribbles, he dribbles. He’s fun to watch.”
Olise feels out of Arsenal’s reach, but one player who could well join Saliba in north London next season is PSG star Barcola. After winning back-to-back Champions League titles, the former Lyon man is at a crossroads in his career.
At both club and international level, he found himself outside of the starting XI when important matches came around. However, Desir Douet looks set to start against Iraq after failing to impress at MetLife Stadium last Tuesday.
Barcola is entering the final two years of his contract with PSG. Despite extension talks, no progress has yet been made on new terms, and Liverpool are also keeping a close eye on the 23-year-old’s situation.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive Mirror Football content every day. Community members also receive special offers, promotions, and advertisements from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check it out whenever you like. If you are interested, please read our privacy notice.
Come on, England! Pick up your mirror on Tuesday and get a free £3 shop bet at William Hill
The whole country is watching with bated breath as England take on their next rivals Ghana in the 2026 World Cup. We’re offering a £3 free bet valid on all football matches, including the big matches, in your favorite paper on Tuesday 23 June 2026!
Find out more.
