Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has been speaking about William Saliba and some of the interest shown in him this summer.
It was widely reported throughout the transfer window that Marseille were keen on Saliba after an incredibly impressive loan spell with the Ligue 1 club.
However, while Marseille’s interest was widely known, Romano also claims that the Frenchman was considered as an option for Barcelona this summer before they moved for Jules Kounde.
Barcelona considered Saliba
Romano shared what he knows about Saliba and Barcelona’s interest.
“And Barcelona, let me mention Barcelona. William Saliba was one of the players they wanted in case the Kounde deal was not going through. Kounde was always the obsession for Barca and they signed Kounde, but they were prepared to make a proposal for Saliba in case the Kounde deal didn’t go through. Barca never made a proposal for Saliba but he was one of the names they had in the list,” Romano said.
Might live to regret it
Barcelona went after Kounde rather than Saliba, and based on his performances so far for Arsenal this season, that is a decision they may live to regret.
Now, we’re not saying that Kounde isn’t a fantastic player in his own right, because he is, but Saliba has looked like one of the most commanding centre-backs on the planet this season for Arsenal, and at the age of just 21, he has so much room to grow and improve.
Saliba may well end up being one of the world’s premier defenders, and while Kounde could also follow that trajectory, we know who we’d rather have right now.
Arsenal have a diamond on their hands here, and it may not be long before the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid come calling again.
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