William Saliba Returns to France Training Ahead of World Cup Despite Back Concerns

Arsenal and France fans received an update on Saturday regarding William Saliba, who returned to training with his national team in preparation for their World Cup campaign. The defender had been absent from training sessions earlier in the week due to ongoing back issues.

L'Equipe reports that Saliba trained normally on Saturday. The French outlet also clarified that his half-time substitution during France’s final friendly against Northern Ireland on Monday was a pre-planned decision. Saliba is reportedly expected to be in the starting lineup for France's first World Cup match against Senegal, despite his recent injury concerns. His back problem is not expected to sideline him for the tournament, even if it has restricted his ability to train consistently.

Didier Deschamps' squad had conducted training sessions on Thursday and Friday, during which Saliba did not participate in group activities. He was observed doing laps of the pitch alongside Adrien Rabiot. Previous reports indicated that the center-back has been managing a back injury in recent weeks, necessitating careful management.

There are reports suggesting Saliba might require an operation following the tournament. While the exact nature of this potential surgery has not been specified, Arsenal is reportedly aware that Saliba could miss the beginning of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign. Saliba previously experienced a significant absence of approximately three months during the 2022/23 season due to a similar back problem.

(Source: Yahoo Sports Soccer)