Arsenal star William Saliba returns to his Cameroonian roots

William Saliba has swapped the treatment room for a heartfelt homecoming.

The Arsenal defender is currently visiting Cameroon, his mother's homeland, taking advantage of his time away from club football to reconnect with his roots following France's World Cup campaign.

One of the highlights of the trip saw Saliba meet Cameroon football icon and current FECAFOOT president Samuel Eto'o in Yaounde, where the pair posed for photographs and discussed football.

Born in Bondy, France, Saliba was eligible to represent Cameroon through his mother but ultimately chose to play for Les Bleus, where he has established himself as one of Europe's leading central defenders.

The visit has also given the 25-year-old the chance to spend time with relatives in Cameroon, where he has maintained close family ties despite building his career in Europe. Previous trips have seen him welcomed warmly by supporters in Douala, with crowds gathering to greet the Arsenal star, take photos and ask for autographs.

The timing of the visit comes after an emotionally and physically demanding couple of months. Saliba helped France reach the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup before suffering a back injury against eventual champions Spain. Arsenal have since confirmed he will not require surgery but is expected to be sidelined for an extended period as he begins rehabilitation.

For now, though, football has taken a back seat.

Arsenal fear five-month lay-off after Saliba suffers serious back injury

Instead, Saliba has chosen to reconnect with the continent and the country that forms a key part of his identity - a reminder that even one of the Premier League's biggest stars still enjoys returning to where his family's story began.