Rio Ferdinand delivered a pointed response to former Manchester United teammate Gary Neville after Neville compared Arsenal defender William Saliba to a young Ferdinand. The comparison, made during a Sky Sports broadcast, did not sit well with Ferdinand, who had previously criticized Saliba as a 'waste of money'.
Neville's Praise for Saliba
After Saliba's impressive Premier League debut for Arsenal in the 2022/23 season opener against Crystal Palace, Neville told Sky Sports: 'I was massively impressed by him. He reminded me of a young Rio Ferdinand. He's such a young defender at 21.'
Ferdinand's Initial Reaction
At the time, Ferdinand urged caution, saying on his YouTube channel: '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!'
Ferdinand's Earlier Criticism
Ferdinand had been far from complimentary about Saliba earlier in the Frenchman's career. When Arsenal loaned Saliba to Nice in January 2021, Ferdinand said: 'Saliba, what's happened with him? It's a waste of money it seems at the minute. I don't know what's happened.' Arsenal had paid £27 million for Saliba as a teenager.
Saliba's Rise to Prominence
Since then, Saliba has become a key figure for Arsenal, helping the club end a 22-year wait for a Premier League title in the 2023/24 season. He signed a new contract in September 2023, tying him to the club until 2030. His market value has soared well beyond the initial £27 million fee.
