Saliba, now considered one of the best centre-backs in Europe, was signed by Arsenal under Unai Emery but never played for him. By the time the defender arrived in north London, Mikel Arteta was in charge and he was immediately moved on loan to Nice for the 2021-22 season.
That season went well. But when he returned to Arsenal the following summer, he was again considered surplus to requirements and the club wanted him to go on loan to a Premier League side.
He told L'Equipe: "Arsenal wanted me to go to Newcastle United or Crystal Palace, but I didn't want to."
Saliba instead chose between Lille and Marseille. Financial difficulties at Lille made Marseille the destination, despite some initial reluctance on his part.
"Marseille is a big club, but it is scary," he said. "It was the season where it was a bit crazy, where the supporters had gone to the Commanderie. But with my agent, we said: 'Marseille — if you go there and have a good season, it is the team in France and things can move quickly.'"
The decision proved transformative.
"Jorge Sampaoli really wanted me. I went to Marseille and things moved so quickly. I played almost all of the matches. My value rose again. I started having fun again. By March, I was playing my first matches for France. It was an incredible year. I honestly loved Marseille: the supporters, the club, my teammates."
He distilled the lesson simply.
"Football is like that. You build again from the bottom — it's not a problem. Buckle up. If you do things well, you'll get back to the top."
Saliba returned to Arsenal for the 2022-23 season and has been a permanent fixture in Arteta's first-choice backline ever since, winning the Premier League last season and earning recognition as one of the best defenders in the world. He is currently at the World Cup with France, who face Ecuador in the round of 32.