On-loan Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi has, on Sunday, risked drawing the ire of the Gunners faithful, owing to comments surrounding the future of William Saliba beyond the summer.
Both Guendouzi and Saliba, of course, spent this past season back in their home country of France, loaned out to Olympique Marseille for the duration of the campaign.
And the up-and-coming internationals went on to thoroughly impress, each solidifying themselves as integral members of Jorge Sampaoli’s setup.
Midfield metronome Guendouzi, in turn, is set to stay put at the Stade Velodrome, with Marseille’s transfer chiefs happy to commit to activating the obligation to buy in the 23-year-old’s contract with the club.
MARSEILLE, FRANCE – DECEMBER 9, 2021: Matteo Guendouzi and Arkadiusz Milik celebrate a goal in the 2021/22 UEFA Europa League Group E Round 6 match between Olympique de Marseille and Lokomotiv Moscow at the Orange Velodrome Stadium. (Photo by Mikhail JaparidzeTASS via Getty Images)
Saliba, on the other hand, though, is in line for a return to north London.
Having seen his stellar efforts at the heart of OM’s backline recognised by way of the award for Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year, and since gone on to secure a regular starting role for France, too, the 21-year-old is now viewed as ready to make the step up to the Premier League landscape.
One individual, however, who remains hopeful of Saliba manoeuvring a fresh Emirates departure comes in the form of none other than the aforementioned Guendouzi.
Speaking in an interview with TF1, the soon-to-be permanent Marseille fixture was drawn on the future of his fellow countryman.
And Guendouzi went on to assure that he is ready to do whatever it takes to ensure that Saliba seals a swift return to the south of France, ‘sure’ that the talented stopper ‘will come back’:
“William [Saliba] now has Marseille in his heart and I am sure that he will come back to Marseille next season. So I am going to try to push again for him to stay with us.”
“William a l’OM maintenant dans le cœur, et je suis sûr qu’il reviendra à Marseille la saison prochaine. Donc je vais essayer de le pousser encore pour rester avec nous”
Mattéo Guendouzi est clair : il veut voir Saliba rester à l’OM l’an prochain (@FredCalenge) pic.twitter.com/42rP37Iees
— Téléfoot (@telefoot_TF1) June 12, 2022
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