Mohamed Salah had already been sent a powerful message by the Saudi Pro League prior to his explosive Liverpool comments
Mohamed Salah has been told he would slot in perfectly at Al-Hilal amid mounting speculation over a potential January switch to the Saudi Pro League. The forward’s Anfield future has been thrown into serious doubt after his bombshell comments following Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Leeds.
Having been left on the bench, the Egyptian delivered a damning post-match interview in which he took aim at both the club and boss Arne Slot. Salah suggested his relationship with Slot had deteriorated beyond repair and alleged Liverpool had thrown him “under the bus” and had made him a scapegoat for their poor form.
Salah has been persistently linked with a switch to Saudi Arabia. His contract extension in April seemed to quieten that talk but the possibility of a move now appears to be back on the table. Al-Hilal – previously reported to have weighed up a £150million offer for the 33-year-old – are understood to be among the frontrunners for his services.
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Remarks from former Al-Hilal boss Jorge Jesus indicate they would roll out the red carpet for him. He said earlier this year: “I would like to have Salah at Al-Hilal, he has a way of playing that fits the team.”
Weeks earlier, he suggested that Salah wouldn’t be heading their way in January (2025) but might arrive in the following months. He said: “Mo Salah or other big players will not come this winter. But maybe for next season.”
Al-Hilal are seeking a marquee attacking signing following Neymar’s departure earlier this year, with Salah regarded as an ideal candidate, especially considering his immense popularity in the Middle East.
He would be reunited with a familiar face at Al-Hilal in former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez, who made the switch during the summer transfer window. Their squad also features former Manchester City defender João Cancelo and former Chelsea centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly.
That said, the club has undergone a managerial reshuffle since Jesus openly declared his admiration for Salah, with former Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi assuming control in the summer. Jesus has subsequently relocated to Al-Nassr and might endeavour to entice Salah there instead.
Al-Nassr is where Cristiano Ronaldo and ex-Reds team-mate Sadio Mane ply their trade. The battle for starting positions would be intense, however, with former Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman and ex-Chelsea attacker Joao Felix also on the books.
Needing to battle for regular first-team football might not sit well with Salah based on his recent statement. The two-time PFA Player of the Year described being left out of the starting XI for three consecutive matches as “not acceptable,” maintaining that his standing at Liverpool should guarantee him a place without having to prove himself week in, week out.
He said: “The respect, I want to get. I don’t have to go every day fighting for my position because I earned it. I am not bigger than anyone but I earned my position. It’s football. It is what it is.
“I’m very, very disappointed to be fair. I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season. Now I’m sitting on the bench and I don’t know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame.
“I got a lot of promises in the summer and so far I am on the bench for three games so I can’t say they keep the promise. I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager and all of a sudden, we don’t have any relationship. I don’t know why, but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn’t want me in the club.”
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.
