Mohamed Salah’s controversial interview is still dominating the headlines at Liverpool.
The Reds may have beaten Inter Milan since Salah’s public outburst, but ahead of their next game against Brighton, the Egyptian is overshadowing their work.
He does not often speak to the media, so when he did after the Leeds game, it was no surprise he went bold, although no one expected him to be quite as honest as he was.
Who should replace Mohamed Salah if he leaves for the Saudi Pro League? 🤔
Why he did it is a whole other kettle of fish, but people within football have had their say, and either way, it is not a good look for the 33-year-old.
Agents have two theories why Mohamed Salah made those comments
Salah may have just been genuinely upset by his lack of minutes and was desperate just to get on the pitch, but his interview was not the way to go about getting that.
In fact, people within football believe that his motives were a little more serious, with The Athletic reporting on two theories that they were told by insiders.
“The Athletic has spoken to multiple clubs and agents, including those with direct knowledge of Liverpool, to gauge their views on why Salah behaved like he did last Saturday and where his future might lie,” they wrote.
“The general perception is that Salah made his incendiary comments either because he genuinely wants to force a move out of the club or because he wants to put pressure on Slot, whose position was already under scrutiny due to Liverpool’s poor results in their Premier League title defence.”
If either of these are true, which it seems very much like they might be, then it really is not a good look for the Egyptian King, especially as this is a team sport.
However, he might get his wish one way or another, although it is more likely that he loses this battle as the club cannot be seen to have too much player-power.
Mohamed Salah has likely played his last game for Liverpool
Should Mohamed Salah be brought back to start against Brighton?
If Liverpool back down to Salah in this situation and sack Arne Slot, then the power dynamic will be shifted in the wrong direction, with this affecting how any manager can cope in the future.
So, the Egyptian might have backed himself into a corner on this one as they sort of have to back the manager, meaning he is more likely to be sold.
If this was his plan all along, then he will get his wish, but it is certainly not the way a club legend should bow out.
Someone like him should have a similar send-off to Jurgen Klopp, but instead, he might not even make the squad against Brighton and slip out the exit door as early as January without a proper goodbye.
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