Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney believes William Saliba’s contract extension at Arsenal could attract high-caliber players to join the club in the future.
Arsenal’s decision to extend William Saliba’s contract until 2030 has been hailed as a major coup by the club. The 24-year-old French defender has been instrumental in Arsenal’s defensive solidity this season, and his new deal is a testament to his importance to the team.
According to Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, Saliba’s contract extension could have a positive impact on Arsenal’s transfer ambitions.
“Saliba is a fantastic player,” Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show. “For his team-mates, the fans, and Mikel Arteta, to get his signature on a new contract is huge.”
“That helps with maybe other players following suit and players coming in in January and next summer,” Rooney added. “When you know there is stability, that helps everyone out, so it is a massive signing.”
Rooney also praised Saliba’s partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes, saying that the two defenders complement each other well.
“Saliba and Gabriel complement each other really well. You can see them leading and talking – that is what you need at centre-back,” he said. The pair have formed a strong partnership at the back, and their leadership and communication have been key to Arsenal’s defensive success.
While Rooney believes that Saliba and Gabriel are one of the best centre-back pairs in the league, he stopped short of comparing them to the defenders he faced during his playing career. “You always want to play against the better players,” he said. “Would I put them at the same level as players I have played against? No, I wouldn’t. In this current age, the centre-backs are nowhere near as good as the ones I played against.”
Despite this, Rooney acknowledged that Saliba and Gabriel are arguably the best centre-back pair in the Premier League. Their partnership has been a key factor in Arsenal’s title challenge, and their new contracts will provide stability and continuity to the team.
