Rio Ferdinand has predicted how Mohamed Salah would react if Manchester United made an ‘unbelievable offer’ for the disgruntled Liverpool superstar.
Salah’s future at Anfield is far from clear after he gave an explosive interview accusing Liverpool of ‘throwing him under the bus’.
Speaking in the aftermath of Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Leeds United, Salah – one of Liverpool’s all-time greats and a Premier League legend – also said he had ‘no relationship’ with Anfield boss Arne Slot.
Salah’s outburst shocked the world of football and Slot dropped the Egyptian superstar for Liverpool’s Champions League clash against Inter Milan on Tuesday.
Liverpool are said to be ‘open-minded’ about Salah’s future at the club ahead of the January transfer window, with teams in the Saudi Pro League and MLS believed to be weighing up moves.
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Ferdinand cannot see a way back for Salah, who is leaving England to represent Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations next week, and believes he has likely played his last game for Liverpool.
The former England defender would not be against Manchester United making a ‘public offer’ to tempt Salah away from Liverpool but believes he would reject an approach from the Red Devils.
‘There’s no way Mo Salah goes to Man United,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel. ‘I don’t I don’t think he’s got that trait in him that Wazza [Wayne Rooney] or [Carlos] Tevez had where he goes the extra mile.
‘But yeah, I would make an offer, a public one as well! It would be unbelievable, wouldn’t it? It would be a joke.
‘There’s no doubt in my mind that the Liverpool players don’t want Mohamed Salah to leave because he helps them win trophies.
What did Salah say? Key quotes from explosive interview
- On being benched again versus Leeds: ‘The third time on the bench, I think for the first time in my career. 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.’
- On his relationship with Arne Slot: ‘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.’
- On whether Saturday’s game against Brighton could be his last Liverpool game: ‘In my head, I’m going to enjoy that game because I don’t know what is going to happen now. I will be in Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go the Africa Cup (of Nations). I don’t know what is going to happen when I am there.’
- On whether he regrets signing a new contract last season: ‘Imagine how bad that I have to answer it, honestly. That hurts, even the question hurts. This club, signing for this club, I will never regret it. I thought I’m going to renew here and end my career here, but this is not according to the plan.’
- On transfer interest from the Saudi Pro League: ‘I don’t want to answer this question, because the club is going to take me to a different direction.’
‘But I think he’s gone, it’s gone too far. Salah clearly thinks the manager has an ulterior motive and wants him out of the club.’
Only two players in history have scored more goals for Liverpool than Salah, who joined the Reds in 2017 from Roma.
Salah has won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, FA Cup and EFL Cup during his spell at Anfield.
While the 33-year-old has established himself as a Liverpool legend, Wayne Rooney believes Salah is destroying his legacy.
‘If I was Arne Slot there would be no way he would be in the team,’ Rooney told BBC Sport. ‘It needs to be sorted out quickly either way.
‘He is absolutely destroying his legacy at Liverpool. It would be sad for him to throw it all away. He’s gone about it all wrong.’
While Salah has been arguably the best player in the Premier League over the past decade, he – like many of his teammates – have struggled this season.
Manchester United and England legend Rooney believes ‘time has caught up’ with Salah and branded his outburst as ‘arrogant’.
‘Time catches up with all of us, and this season he hasn’t looked as his best, at his sharpest,’ Rooney added. ‘You want to see him roll his sleeves up and say “ok then, I’ll show you”.
‘To have the arrogance to say he doesn’t have to earn his place because he has already earned his place, you need to be at your best every week to try and stay in the team.
‘If I was one of his team-mates, I wouldn’t be happy at all with what he said because this is where Liverpool need him most.
‘If anything, he has thrown Liverpool under the bus with his words. He’s been absolutely incredible for Liverpool, but this was disrespectful to his team-mates, manager and fans.
‘I would imagine he will be very quiet around the training ground and that will bring a negative energy in itself to the new players Arne has bedded in.
‘I am sure over the next couple of years he will regret saying what he has.’
Reigning Premier League champions Liverpool face Brighton on Saturday in their final game before Salah departs for AFCON.
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