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Soccer Transfer News

Arsenal teen talent wants to be like his compatriot with reported £455.6m release clause

Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP via Getty Images
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Alan Walter – Arsenal FC/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Arsenal central defender William Saliba has told L’Equipe that he plans to be like Real Madrid star Raphael Varane.

Varane is one of the best central defenders in the world and is a star at Spanish giants Madrid.

The 27-year-old France international has won La Liga thrice and the Champions League as many as four times with Los Blancos.

According to Sport, the former Lens star has a release clause of €500 million (£455.62 million) in his contract.

Saliba told L’Equipe, as translated by Football.London: “Now that I have made my dream of becoming a professional come true, I want to do things like Raphael Varane, the best French defender: continue to break through levels, play for the French team and win all possible titles.”

Stats

During his loan spell at Saint-Etienne this past season, Saliba, 19, made 11 starts and one substitute appearance in Ligue 1, according to WhoScored.

The teenager also played twice in the Europa League and thrice in Coupe de France, according to WhoScored.

Establishing at Arsenal

Saliba is a very talented and promising young defender who has already played quite a lot of first-team football at Saint-Etienne.

It is clear that the youngster has a lot of ambition, and perhaps in the coming years, he could become as good as Varane.

Arsenal do need to become better defensively, and perhaps Saliba will make the Gunners better at the back next season and beyond.

Raphael Varane of France pose before the 2020 UEFA European Championships Group H qualifying match between France and Iceland at Stade de France on March 25, 2019 in Paris, France. (Xavier Laine/Getty Images)