Mohamed Salah's departure from Liverpool may not be the greatest surprise in football, but it leaves many questions about the future of one of the Premier League's greatest and undoubtedly Africa's best player. The Egypt international rose to the pinnacle of club football with the Merseysiders, becoming the star of two Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League crown.
The public fallout with Reds manager Arne Slot this season meant the end of his time at Anfield was inevitable, even after a PR patch-up and return from a club-imposed exile following his own criticism of the season and the club's handling of him. What future options and inspirations does the 33-year-old have ahead, or is this the end of the 'Egyptian king's' reign?
A further stint in the English top flight with a move to another Premier League club, despite Salah's stats suggesting he would have no problem maintaining performance levels in the world's number one league, is virtually off the table for a number of reasons. Sentimentality and loyalty will be at the forefront of Salah's thinking; his farewell social media message to Liverpool fans, announcing on Tuesday his departure at season's end, confirms it would be very difficult to line up for a domestic rival.
The most likely option for Salah is a move to Saudi Arabia. When the fallout between Salah and Liverpool hit headlines this season, the Saudi Pro League (SPL) wasted no time rolling out the red carpet for an immediate move. Having signed superstar names like Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, and missing out on Lionel Messi, only signing the greatest Arab player to feature in the region's top league could outdo what has already been achieved.
The other most likely option for Salah is a move to Major League Soccer. From David Beckham to Lionel Messi, the United States' top flight has sought to build its name on star names from the global game long before the SPL threw its hat into the ring as a challenger to European domination of club competitions. MLS not only wants domestic success but sees its branding as a global aspiration—to bring the world's game to the US. Snatching Salah from under Saudi noses is possible, but it would be an astonishing coup.
Salah's stats will undoubtedly attract interest from some of Europe's top clubs. Domestically, outside the Premier League, Salah could easily perform in any of the continent's top flights. However, wages would again limit the pool of contenders; from Paris Saint-Germain to Bayern Munich, money would be there to pay for Salah, while outside Real Madrid and Barcelona, it is unlikely anyone in Spain or Italy could significantly stretch budgets.
While Salah's days in the world's best league appear to be ending, and with them top-tier European competition, this does not mean it has to be the end of the road. Although club glory is unlikely to offer the dizzying heights of previous triumphs, Salah will not want his story and illustrious career to wane in this fashion—and there are other matters for Salah to settle.
Wherever Salah ends up now, it is likely to be a step down. Only Real Madrid and Barcelona could offer the forward a similar level of club exposure. There are two great matters—one an enormous itch—that will still spur Salah on.
Although rightly regarded as an 'Egyptian king' by his homeland and Africa's greatest by a wider audience, Salah has not led Egypt to international glory—most especially at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Egypt was knocked out in the semifinals of the last edition by Senegal in January; many speculated Salah's last chance at AFCON glory may have passed.
However, a downgrade in club football may elongate Salah's international career, and with another AFCON coming in 2027, the forward surely has not given up on finally lifting his continent's greatest prize—one his nation has claimed a record seven times overall. First, however, is the FIFA World Cup 2026. Indeed, upon exiting AFCON, Egypt manager Hossam Hassan said he hoped that pain could inspire even greater glory.
The North African nation of Morocco proved at Qatar 2022 what can be achieved when they became the first country from the continent to reach the semifinals of a World Cup. Egypt will not set sights lower than taking its record haul of AFCON titles—though not won since 2010—to the global stage. Surpassing the feat achieved by the Atlas Lions in Qatar will now be at the forefront of all African nations.
Source: www.aljazeera.com