Former Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly has declared that Arsenal's William Saliba is the best centre-back in the world and will eventually join Real Madrid. Desailly's comments come after Saliba helped Arsenal win the Premier League last season, forming a formidable partnership with Gabriel.
Desailly's Verdict on Saliba
Speaking to Sportscasting, Desailly said: "Who do I think is the best centre-back in the world? It's not Virgil van Dijk. He has his level, we know, there's no doubt he's a great defender. But on some occasions, he has shown a little bit of weakness. I would put William Saliba there, even though he has some problems with his back, I think he's in the conversation for the world's best centre-back. Saliba is definitely one of the best ones."
Desailly also downplayed Gabriel's role, stating: "Gabriel is only there because of Saliba – so Gabriel, no, he's not in the conversation." He added that no other Premier League or Serie A defender matches Saliba's consistency and one-on-one ability.
Real Madrid Move 'Inevitable'
Despite Saliba signing a five-year contract in September 2025 that runs until 2030, Desailly expects a future move to Real Madrid. "Yes, yes. I do expect William Saliba to one day wear the colours of Real Madrid," he said. "He's committed to Arsenal for the next, I don’t know, four years. But he's young, so why not? The door is open, and all the best players want to play for Real Madrid at some point in their careers. The door is open. But not now. Not now. He is the best central defender, so it is what it is today."
Saliba's Rise at Arsenal
Saliba, 25, became a regular for Arsenal in 2022 after loan spells at Saint-Étienne, Nice, and Marseille. His partnership with Gabriel has been widely regarded as the best in Europe, forming the bedrock of Arsenal's title-winning campaign. The club's defensive solidity was key to their Premier League success, with Saliba earning plaudits as one of the world's elite defenders.
