Liverpool have omitted Mohamed Salah from the squad travelling to face Inter Milan, just days after the forward’s explosive interview criticising the club’s handling of recent events.
The decision was made in agreement with head coach Arne Slot, who is reportedly fully behind the move.
Salah, speaking after Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Leeds United, claimed he had been “thrown under the bus” and suggested his relationship with Slot had deteriorated following his omission from the starting line-up for three consecutive matches.
In response, the club now believes that temporarily removing him from selection is the best course of action for the player, the team, and Liverpool as a whole.
The situation has cast serious doubt over Salah’s future at Anfield. Although he trained normally on Monday, the Egyptian star is set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations after Liverpool’s home fixture against Brighton on Saturday, meaning he may already have played his final game for the club.
Salah has long been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League, with both Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad keen to sign him and financially capable of meeting his demands. If he does leave Liverpool, a transfer in January or at the end of the season appears most likely.
However, Ben Harburg, the American owner of Saudi Pro League side Al-Kholood, has cautioned against the league overpaying for ageing football stars.
In a social media post, Harburg said he would welcome players like Salah or Vinícius Júnior but insisted that Saudi clubs should not offer salaries exceeding European standards. According to him, the Kingdom offers an attractive lifestyle and should not need to overspend to lure players to the league.
He stressed that the quality of life in Saudi Arabia is superior to that in many European countries, arguing that high wages should not be the primary tool for attracting top talent.