Years before Mohamed Salah secured his big move to Liverpool, he begged on live television to leave his boyhood club in Egypt. An unusual sight was seen on Egyptian television in 2012 when a 19-year-old Salah was playing for Al Mokawroun.
Egyptian football, which had scored seven goals in the first 15 league games of the season, came to a shocking halt following the Port Said disaster. After the match between Al Masri and Al Ahly ended 3-1 in favor of the former, thousands of Al Masri fans stormed the pitch, leaving 74 people dead and more than 500 injured.
The tragedy caused the domestic league to be suspended for two years, and Salah was forced to look for a new club to keep his football dreams alive. With nothing standing in his way as he aims to break into European football, the Liverpool icon has begged Al Mokawroun officials to allow him to sign for Swiss side Basel.
The club’s president has reportedly offered Basel a reward of £2.6 million (€3 million) for Salah’s contribution, with Salah admitting that his dreams of playing football could be dashed if he is not given the chance to move to Basel. “But I can’t do anything,” he pleaded on whether to remain in Egypt during the two-year ban.
Salah’s plea was accepted and he signed a four-year contract with Basel in April 2012. He spent less than two years in Switzerland as he moved to Premier League powerhouse Chelsea for £11 million. After underperforming at Stamford Bridge, he joined the Blues via Fiorentina and Roma, and three years passed before signing for Liverpool.
Although he has yet to declare his retirement at Liverpool, Salah’s future at Anfield remains up in the air after he publicly criticized the club and Arne Slott after being left off the bench for three consecutive league games. After the Reds drew 3-3 against Leeds United, the 33-year-old admitted he was in disbelief at the Dutchman’s decision to be relegated.
“I couldn’t believe I was sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,” Salah said. “This is the third time this has happened. I think it’s the first time in my career. I’m very disappointed. I’ve done a lot for this club over the years, especially last season. It’s like the club has thrown me under the bus. That’s how I feel. Someone is trying to put all the blame on me.”
“The club promised me a lot in the summer, and now that I’m on the bench, I can say they haven’t kept their promises. I had a good relationship[with Slott]but now I don’t have anything to do with it and I don’t know why. It’s like someone doesn’t want me at the club. I called my dad and mom and told them to come to the Brighton game. It doesn’t matter whether I play or not. I’m going to have fun.”
