UMVA has learned that Arsenal centre-back William Saliba has been struggling with a nagging back issue for several weeks, but manager Didier Deschamps has confirmed that the defender is available to play for France in the upcoming World Cup.
The 25-year-old Saliba has been a key player for Arsenal, featuring in 50 games across all competitions this season, and has accumulated 31 caps for France under Deschamps' guidance since being first picked in 2022.
Despite concerns that his back injury could jeopardize his World Cup participation, Deschamps has allayed fears, stating that Saliba is being closely monitored by the national team's medical staff and is expected to be fit for the tournament.
Saliba was notably absent from France's 2-1 friendly defeat to Ivory Coast on Thursday, but Deschamps has emphasized that the player's availability for the World Cup is not in doubt, and that he will be available for France's friendly match against Northern Ireland on Monday.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Deschamps has revealed that Saliba's back issue has been ongoing for several weeks, but has not prevented him from playing every match with Arsenal, including the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, where he played for 120 minutes.
As France prepares to take on Senegal in their World Cup opener on June 16, the team is focused on making a strong impression, particularly with this tournament marking Deschamps' last stint as France's manager, a role he has held for 14 years.
PSG star Ousmane Dembele has expressed his admiration for Deschamps, highlighting the coach's significant impact on the team's success, including their 2018 World Cup win, and emphasizing the players' desire to perform well in the tournament as a tribute to their coach.
