Lille OSC: Saliba reveals details of failed transfer

Lille OSC almost signed William Saliba in summer 2021. The French defender revealed the details of his failed transfer in an interview with L’Équipe.

What happened?

Saliba came out of a six-month loan at Nice and returned to Arsenal with the goal of playing at the highest level. However, the Gunners had a different plan and wanted to loan him out to a Premier League club.

Why Lille OSC?

Lille OSC had just won the 2020-2021 French championship title and were set to play in the Champions League. This was a major argument for Saliba, who was looking for a project where he could be a starter and play European matches.

What went wrong?

The negotiations between Arsenal and Lille OSC did not come to fruition due to financial problems. OM then seized the opportunity to sign Saliba, who joined the Marseille club in July 2021.