Mohamed Salah is urged to ‘attain out to Lionel Messi’ about taking part in in America, by MLS chief – with sad Liverpool star advised he’d be ‘welcomed with open arms’ if he leaves Anfield
The MLS have launched a charm offensive to persuade exiled Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah to move to the US and follow in Lionel Messi‘s footsteps.
Salah, 33, faces an uncertain future under Arne Slot on Merseyside following his explosive interview in which he claimed there was ‘no relationship with the manager’ and that he has been ‘thrown under the bus’.
The Egyptian was then dropped for Liverpool’s win at Inter Milan and his future with the Reds is in doubt, with three Saudi Pro League sides also interested in signing him.
Now, MLS commissioner Don Garber has thrown his league’s hat in the ring, after Daily Mail Sport’s Simon Jones reported interest from San Diego and Chicago Fire.
‘Obviously, if [Salah] ever decides to come to Major League Soccer, we’d welcome him with open arms,’ the 68-year-old American said.
‘I’d say he should reach out to Leo [Messi] and reach out to Thomas Muller and see how happy they’ve been and how successful they’ve been and how much they’ve really embraced being in Major League Soccer.’
Lionel Messi, pictured with Mohamed Salah in 2019, could help persuade him to move to the MLS
MLS Commissioner, Don Garber (right) said the league would welcome Salah with open arms
Garber went on to caveat his plea by going on to say that Salah remains under contract with Liverpool and that should be respected.
He continued: ‘I’ve seen some rumours about Mo Salah. We very much believe in the sanctity of a contract; that’s an American business dynamic. Mo’s under contract to Liverpool, people we know. It’s a great team.’
While the MLS might appeal to Salah, who signed a contract extension with Liverpool after a protracted saga last season in which he spearheaded their title victory, there are numerous obstacles in the way.
Any MLS club interested in him would have to abide by their tight salary-cap regulations and Designated Player slots.
Inter Miami are an unlikely destination as they are prioritising other positions in their squad but it would still be a major coup for the MLS if Salah was to choose the US.
As Simon Jones reported for Daily Mail Sport, Saudi Arabian Pro League clubs are also waiting to see if peace can be brokered between Salah and Slot before making any approach for the unhappy Liverpool forward.
Liverpool maintain a stance that Salah only signed a new contract, worth in excess of £400,000-a-week, months ago and expect him to see that out. They have no plans to sell as they believe the issue with Slot can be resolved.
Saudi Pro League sources, however, suspect that is an attempt by Liverpool to protect Salah’s transfer value and are keeping a keen eye on developments.
Sunderland
V
Newcastle United
*18+, excludes NI. Terms and conditions apply
Saudi or the MLS would appear the more likely destinations if Salah is to leave in January
Talking at the World Football Summit in Riyadh earlier this week, Saudi Pro League chief executive Omar Mugharbel said: ‘Mohamed Salah is welcome in the Saudi League, but it is the clubs that are responsible for negotiating with players.
‘For sure Salah is one of them [a target].’
Al Hilal, Al Qadisah and Neom are all understood to be interested should Liverpool, who rejected a £150m offer from Al Ittihad in 2023, give any encouragement that a deal could yet be done over the coming weeks.
Salah threw a grenade into his Liverpool future when he stopped in the mixed zone for a seven-minute airing of his grievances after Liverpool’s disappointing late draw against Leeds at Elland Road at the weekend.
Salah gave explosive interview on Saturday, where he suggested he no longer had a relationship with Liverpool boss Arne Slot and that he had been ‘thrown under the bus’
‘I could not believe I was sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,’ he said at Leeds’ ground. ‘That’s the third time. It’s the first time in my career I think.
‘(I am) very disappointed, I have done so much for this club over the years, especially last season. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That’s how I feel.
‘Someone wants me to get all the blame. The club promised me a lot in summer. Now I’m on the bench so I can say they haven’t kept those promises.
‘I used to have a good relationship (with manager Slot). Now we don’t have any relationship and I don’t know why.’
His interview led to widespread criticism and Jamie Carragher branded him a ‘disgrace’, before fellow Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard said: ‘No one is perfect and we’ve all had head loss as players, where we’ve done emotional things. I think in time when this all calms, Mo will go, “I shouldn’t have said that. I maybe shouldn’t have said that and I was a bit emotional and a bit hasty.”
Slot and Salah are due to attempt peace talks this week before the Brighton game
‘At the end of the day, Liverpool need Mo Salah back playing well, scoring goals because he is the best player, the best scorer, and he will help them get out of this. If this goes on, this is bigger than what we all know and what we see.’
Liverpool have hardened up their defence since Salah dropped out of the side and kept a clean sheet in the away win at San Siro on Tuesday.
It remains to be seen whether he can patch up his relationship with Slot or if he has burned through his bridges to such an extent that a move is the only option.
The Reds face Brighton before Salah leaves for AFCON and talk over his future will swirl in the weeks ahead before the transfer window opens next month.
