Departure after Africa Cup of Nations?
©IMAGO
The recently despised star striker Mohamed Salah has started a dispute at Liverpool FC and hinted at his departure. “Someone wants me to take all the blame. The club promised me a lot in the summer. Now I’m sitting on the bench, so I can say that they didn’t keep that promise,” said the 33-year-old Egyptian on “Viaplay”. Salah was not in the starting line-up for the third time in a row in the crisis-hit Reds’ 3-3 draw at Leeds United in the Premier League and was not substituted on. In the market value update next Tuesday, it is threatened with a major devaluation, and not just due to age.
“I had a good relationship with the coach. All of a sudden we no longer have a relationship at all and I don’t know why. Apparently someone doesn’t want me at the club anymore,” complained the 2019 Champions League winner about Liverpool’s Dutch head coach Arne Slot.
Salah on Liverpool’s crisis: ‘Don’t think I’m the problem’
Salah’s contract runs until 2027; he only extended it in April after long negotiations and speculation about a move. According to media reports, Saudi Arabia’s top club Al-Hilal SFC is still interested in a commitment, and Turkish champion Galatasaray was also recently mentioned in the transfer market rumor mill.
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The award-winning winger made a meaningful announcement for the next home game on Saturday: “I called my parents and told them to come to the game against Brighton. It doesn’t matter whether I play or not. I’ll enjoy it. I’ll just be at Anfield and say goodbye to the fans before the Africa Cup of Nations because I don’t know what will happen then.” On December 22nd, the Egyptian national team has its first game against Zimbabwe at the tournament in Morocco. Salah travels to the team a week in advance.
The veteran has been playing in Liverpool since 2017. His current situation is “unacceptable” and he feels as if he has been “thrown under the bus. I don’t think I’m the problem. I’ve done so much for the club.” In other clubs the players would be protected. Salah also referred to the last championship season, when he was top scorer with 29 goals. For the Reds he contributed 250 goals and 116 assists in 420 games. When it comes to the club’s record goalscorers, he is third behind Ian Rush (346) and Roger Hunt (285).
