Arsenal’s defense has been a fortress for a couple of seasons now, showcasing their resilience. This mental and physical toughness was shown again when Arsenal faced the might of Man City and Erling Haaland.
Their ability to keep City at bay, despite going down to 10 men, was a testament to the defensive structure Mikel Arteta has built.
At the heart of this backline stands William Saliba, a 23-year-old Frenchman who’s quickly established his name not just as a top Premier League defender, but also as a prominent name in world football.
His on-pitch loyalty to the Gunners has never been in question. But in a surprising twist, some fans believe they’ve uncovered a hidden allegiance from Saliba’s past—one that involves Arsenal’s fierce rivals, Manchester United.
The speculation began when an old photo of a teenage William Saliba surfaced online. In the image, the Arsenal star is seen wearing a full Manchester United tracksuit, raising eyebrows among fans.
The blue tracksuit with red accents appears to be from United’s 2013-14 season, a period when Saliba was still in his formative football years.
Naturally, this discovery sent social media into overdrive. Was Saliba a secret United fan? Could he have once cheered for Arsenal’s bitter rivals before donning the red and white of North London?
These were the questions echoing around social media as fans attempted to dissect the possible meanings behind the tracksuit.
Football allegiances are not as simple as they look. It’s not uncommon for footballers to support one club in their youth, only to later play for a rival.
Many players have come out to admit the same. One such example is of John Terry who’s revealed he was a Man United fan growing up, eventually going on to play for Chelsea.
“I was Man United growing up, you know what it’s like when you’re a boy, you want to support the team that’s winning everything.”
Similarly, Saliba could very well have been a young Manchester United supporter before falling in love with Arsenal.
However, fans were quick to debunk the notion of Saliba being a lifelong United fan. For one, many pointed out that it’s fairly common, particularly in France, for kids to wear football gear from various clubs for purely aesthetic reasons.
It doesn’t necessarily indicate loyalty to that team. After all, Saliba’s generation grew up watching top European clubs dominate the Champions League, and owning kits from different teams was part of the culture.
The more convincing evidence against Saliba being a United fan comes from his own interviews.
In an interview with Arsenal, Saliba expressed his admiration for Arsenal from a young age. He has spoken fondly about how, as a child, he idolized Thierry Henry and fell in love with the club during Arsenal’s glory days in the Champions League.
“When I was growing up, I watched all the Champions League games,” Saliba once shared. “I had an Arsenal shirt when I was about seven or eight years old. I loved watching Arsenal.”
He also mentioned that he had Thierry Henry’s name on the back of his shirt—hardly a sign of a United supporter.
Saliba’s connection to Arsenal runs deep. He grew up during a time when Arsenal, led by Arsène Wenger, had a strong French influence, making it easy for young French football fans to gravitate toward the club.
There are even pictures of a young 8/9 year old Saliba wearing an Arsenal kit sitting in his room. It’s these experiences and evidences that show his support for the red side of North London.
While the image of Saliba in a Manchester United tracksuit certainly fueled some speculation, the reality has been proved to be far less dramatic. The picture likely represents nothing more than a moment in time when a young William Saliba wore a fashionable tracksuit.
At 23, Saliba has a long way to go in football and maybe at Arsenal. His trajectory suggests that he could have a long and prosperous career with the club under the guidance of Mikel Arteta.
So, while fans may continue to circulate the rare photo of a teenage Saliba in United gear, it’s safe to say that Arsenal is the club that holds his heart.