William Saliba compared to Manchester United legend after Erling Haaland battle
manchestereveningnews.co.ukFormer manager Harry Redknapp has likened William Saliba to Rio Ferdinand - who he coached as a youngster at West Ham. Saliba has earned plenty of praise after keeping Erling Haaland quiet during Arsenal's 1-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday.
The Norwegian endured a torrid time at the Emirates, failing to register a single shot on target and often finding himself frustrated.
Few have been able to come out on top against Haaland, but Saliba proved he has the pace, strength and mental capacity to compete against the best strikers.
That combination is rare in modern-day defenders but Ferdinand was often praised for having it all, and Redknapp has compared the two. ALSO READ: What happened in United's behind-closed-doors friendly vs Barnsley ALSO READ: Maguire reveals truth behind failed West Ham move "I thought Saliba was different class against City," Redknapp told Premier League Odds. "He man-marked [Erling] Haaland for a lot of the game and honestly, the Norwegian barely had a kick. "He’s got a bit of everything in his game, he’s what I would call a Rolls-Royce of a defender.
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