Rio Ferdinand has dismissed a claim that Manchester United have a better defender than Arsenal star William Saliba.
Saliba has helped Mikel Arteta’s side challenge for the Premier League title over the last two seasons and his stock has only continued to rise at Euro 2024.
The 23-year-old was not expected to start under Didier Deschamps but the France boss has settled on Saliba and Dayot Upamecano as his centre-pair pairing, to great success.
France have only conceded one goal in five matches at the Euros, with the superb defensive record helping Deschamps’ side reach a semi-final against in-form Spain.
Ferdinand believes France could ‘do what England are doing’ and potentially win the tournament without producing their best form and says Saliba is now arguably the best defender in the world.
Ferdinand’s fellow Vibe with Five presenter Stephen Howson suggested Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez was at an even higher level than Saliba but the ex-England defender dismissed the claim.
‘France could do exactly what England are doing,’ Ferdinand said. ‘They could stink the place out and still win this thing.
‘Their defence, on paper, is better than ours. Saliba and Upamecano have formed a really good partnership. They’ve been brilliant.
‘I think if you were going to pick the best centre-half in the world right now. You’d go with William Saliba.’
On the suggestion that Martinez is a better defender than Saliba, Ferdinand responded: ‘No man, come on. That’s bias, that’s bias.
‘They would be an unreal partnership by the way but he’s not [better than Saliba], he’s not. If you ask any centre forward who’s better, I don’t think many will say Martinez over Saliba.’
On tentative rumours that Saliba could leave Arsenal amid reported interest from Real Madrid, Ferdinand added: ‘If he leaves, Arsenal have fumbled the bag.’
