Whatever the future after football holds for Mohamed Salah, we can immediately rule out the idea of him pursuing a career in negotiations.
Outside St Mary’s, as Liverpool’s unexpected title challenge gained further momentum with a comeback win over Southampton, the hero of the moment did something he had never done in seven years at the club: he actively sought out journalists for an interview.
Usually when you see Salah in these situations, it happens one of two ways.
The first is like a good-natured pantomime: ‘Come on, Mo! You know you want to do two minutes!’ we would ask. ‘Next time, guys! Next time!’ he would respond – that ends with a laugh as he quickly passes by; the second (especially if he hasn’t scored) begins and ends with a look from him that says: don’t ask.
Salah is like the Scarlet Pimpernel in dealing with the press, to the point that there was a time not long ago when his teammates didn’t understand how he basically exempted himself from Champions League press conferences, no matter what requests. they were made.
This gives context to the importance of the situation outside St Mary’s. Salah really had something to say. And as he spoke, he was going to prove that he would be a terrible poker player by showing his hand without any pressure.
Mohamed Salah’s request will not benefit either him or the club in the face of such a complicated streak ahead
He said no progress had been made in contract negotiations after Liverpool’s 3-2 win at Southampton.
“I’m more out than in,” he announced, less than an hour after his brace left him five goals shy of equaling Billy Liddell’s tally of 228, which places the Egyptian fifth on the all-time list. Liddell is a mystical figure in Liverpool’s history. That Salah is in the same orbit, seven years after his debut, is amazing.
It is a brilliant text, a beauty for the last page, but for Arne Slot and his progressive team, the timing is unfortunate. It cannot be disguised any other way: it is a selfish act before 10 days in which the matches against Real Madrid, Manchester City, Newcastle and Everton will mark the season.
He has been nagging all season that not everything in his garden is blooming. There was a surprising interview with Sky Sports after a 3-0 win at Manchester United in August, then a cryptic Instagram post the day after his goal-scoring strike against Brighton four weeks ago.
Perhaps he and his agent Ramy Abbas Issa thought they could put pressure on Liverpool with these episodes: they had captured the hearts and minds of the fans, who were more than happy to issue an SOS (Secure Our Salah) with his seven-month contract. expire. . But this third incident smacks a bit of desperation.
You may read that and anticipate a character assassination to occur, but nothing could be further from the truth. This observer has seen many wear a red shirt over the last four decades, but he is in my top three. He is extraordinary, a scorer of great goals AND a great scorer.
I was in Nagrig, the town between Alexandria and Cairo where he was born, and I understand the work he did to get out of Egypt, let alone become a global icon. His journey will serve as inspiration to show what is possible with dream, desire and dedication.
It is also possible to feel sympathy for him. Liverpool are now in a bind because they lost their way in 2023, when Jurgen Klopp’s tank began to empty and interim sporting director Jorg Schmadtke did not look ahead.
There was a lot of turmoil back then and circumstances meant that Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk slipped out of that crucial two-year window when their contracts should have been renewed or, at the very least, discussions should have started.
Liverpool should have acted sooner to deal with the dwindling time left on his current contract.
But Fenway Sports Group’s deal is black and white, financially speaking: They won’t simply bow to fan pressure to increase Salah’s salary given that he turns 33 next year.
Salah should take a step back and appreciate what he has, although you can feel sympathy for him.
The club should also have started talks with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk earlier
They would have to spend extraordinary sums on a star like Lamine Yamal or Vinicius Jr to replace Salah
Arne Slot is now trying to quell a storm in which he had no part.
The three totems have dealt with the situation in their own way, but Salah, by letting loose now and saying what he has done, has created such a storm that one wonders if the club will be able to calm it down at all. If you thought this would ensure a successful resolution, you are living in a fantasy land.
Fenway Sports Group won’t do what fans demand and just ‘give you the money’; The situation is not so easy. They see things in black and white when a player is over 30 and rarely give better terms to the men in that group.
Whether you agree or not, you will look at Salah (who turns 33 two weeks before his contract expires in June) and wonder why, for the sake of argument, they should invest £60m over three years in a player who, Naturally, it becomes less effective as you age.
On the Kop, they will argue that £60m represents good value because it would take twice as much and more to get a suitable replacement; It would take someone like Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal or Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. to placate Salah’s departure, but neither of them. of them would be available.
Meanwhile, as the situation is debated and arguments escalate, one returns to Salah and thinks about what he said. Selfish? Safely. Liverpool didn’t need a soap opera, but Slot, through no fault of his own, now finds himself at the center of the situation, having to deal with endless questions.
But one wonders if there is also some insecurity. Does Salah really want to leave? He will never have it as good as at Anfield, with the prepared team that allows him to prosper and the fans celebrating his every step. But for the first time Salah has put a foot out of place.
Will it be resolved? Not at the moment. It is not too late to make a radical turn, but doing so requires reconciliation. He has been very good at looking at the picture from his own perspective, but if Salah steps back and appreciates what he has, he will understand the folly of his rare words.