Ferdinand's Strong Reaction to Comparison
Rio Ferdinand reacted strongly to comparisons with William Saliba after former Manchester United teammate Gary Neville awkwardly reminded him of past comments. Neville had compared Saliba to a young Ferdinand following the Frenchman's impressive Premier League debut in August 2022.
Neville's Initial Praise for Saliba
Speaking on Sky Sports after Arsenal's opening day win at Crystal Palace, Neville said: "I was massively impressed by him. He reminded me of a young Rio Ferdinand. He's such a young defender at 21. Getting through that second half, when Arsenal weren't at their best, would have been the most pleasing thing for Mikel Arteta."
Ferdinand's Response to Comparisons
At the time, Ferdinand was cautious about the comparison. On his YouTube channel, he said: "How old is he? How many Premier League games has he played? How many Premier League games had I played at that point? I broke the British transfer record at that time and people are drawing comparisons? It's a madness! Give the boy time, give him some time!"
Previous Criticism of Saliba
Ferdinand had earlier criticized Arsenal's recruitment, specifically regarding Saliba's loan to Nice in January 2021. He said: "You've got a great nucleus of young players, there's seven or eight young players there who everyone is talking about. But you've got to put the pieces around them and that's the big problem. That's been the big problem with recruitment at Arsenal for so long. Saliba, what's happened with him? It's a waste of money it seems at the minute. I don't know what's happened."
Saliba's Rise to Premier League Winner
Since those comments, Saliba has become a key player for Arsenal, making 50 or more appearances in each of the last three seasons. He helped the Gunners end a 22-year wait for the Premier League title in the 2024/25 season. Saliba signed a new contract in September 2024, keeping him at the club until 2030. His value has increased significantly since his £27 million transfer from Saint-Etienne.
