Arsenal talent labelled the next William Saliba admits he used to be a forward idolising Cristiano Ronaldo

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Hale End academy talent Marli Salmon was given his chance to showcase his talent in pre-season for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta included Marli Salmon and several other youngsters in his pre-season Asia tour, a big opportunity for the 16-year-old.

Salmon featured against AC Milan and Newcastle United, and he demonstrated why he’s already being compared to William Saliba.

In fact, Salmon admitted that he wants to emulate Saliba at Arsenal, a centre-back he’s already looking up to in the first team.

And after watching the youngster’s pre-season performances, Arsenal fans believe Salmon could be a £50m talent in the not so distant future.

Arsenal youngster Marli Salmon says he was a forward before he was scouted

That being said, in an interview with Arsenal, Salmon has now admitted that he used to be a forward during his earlier days in the Hale End academy.

Salmon started out at a local club in north London called Global, before he was given the chance to go on trial with Arsenal at the age of nine.

READ MORE: William Saliba receives fresh Real Madrid interest despite Arsenal contract progress

And in that era, it was actually Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi who were inspiring Salmon, rather than top centre-backs who he’ll actually be looking to emulate today.

Speaking to Arsenal, Salmon said: “As a kid I was a forward and of course I looked up to players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.”

Discussing his position change, Salmon admitted that it was almost instantaneous when he arrived at Arsenal.

He continued: “The switch to centre back happened during that first trial. I’d been scouted as a forward, but the coaches pushed me into defence. 

“I played well, and it stuck. I was still young and just thrilled to be at Arsenal, so I didn’t mind where I played. Wearing the shirt was all that mattered.”

Sol Campbell also used to be a striker before he joined Arsenal

In terms of Arsenal’s best centre-backs over the years, it’s hard not to mention Sol Campbell.

And in actual fact, whilst Campbell was still playing for Tottenham Hotspur in their youth teams, he played as a centre-forward and as a midfielder.

Eventually when Campbell really rose to prominence, he settled back into a centre-back role.

But it’s not entirely uncommon that the biggest young footballing talents find themselves playing in advanced positions at a young age – they are simply too good not to be in the limelight.

However, it’s clear Campbell was meant to be a centre-back, and on early viewing, Salmon can clearly excel at the back too.

Arsenal haven’t had too many centre-backs come through their academy in recent years, and fans in N5 will be hoping that the young 16-year-old can continue his rich progress.