For nearly ten years, Mohamed Salah has been the heartbeat of Liverpool—its symbol, its superstar, the face of its resurgence, and one of the most influential players in its 132-year history. He is the club’s most recognisable figure, its commercial powerhouse, and statistically one of its all-time greats. But even legends reach crossroads. Even icons confront moments when their futures feel uncertain. And now, with Arne Slot repeatedly leaving him on the bench and transfer speculation roaring back to life, one reality is becoming clearer than ever: Salah has been mentally preparing for life beyond Liverpool for quite some time.
This shift didn’t begin with Slot. It didn’t begin with Saudi interest. It didn’t begin with his last contract renewal. Salah’s internal debate—the ambitions he weighs, the frustrations he has hinted at, and the loyalties that have quietly shifted—has been unfolding for years, reflected in interviews he has given, subtle comments he has made, and private decisions considered behind the scenes.
This in-depth feature explores Salah’s true stance on leaving Liverpool, the clues he dropped publicly, the frustrations he allowed to surface, his tense relationship with the club’s contract philosophy, and his long-standing admiration for Barcelona and Real Madrid. It also examines how close the Saudi Pro League came to signing him, why that door remains open, and how Arne Slot’s recent decisions have reshaped an already delicate situation.
By the time you finish this 3,000-word analysis, the full picture becomes unmistakable:
Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool journey has always had a complicated ending hidden in plain sight.
1. The First Tremor: Salah’s Early Interest in Real Madrid and Barcelona
To understand where everything truly began, we return to December 2020. Liverpool were reigning Premier League champions, Salah was at the peak of his career, and supporters saw no reason to imagine he would ever consider leaving.
Then came the interview that changed the tone of his future.
Speaking to AS—one of Spain’s biggest newspapers—Salah was asked about Real Madrid and Barcelona. Most expected a polite compliment followed by a firm commitment to Liverpool.
But that wasn’t what happened.
What he said instead signalled that joining one of Spain’s giants wasn’t just a hypothetical idea, but something he had genuinely contemplated for his own long-term ambitions.
Supporters at the time brushed it off as harmless. Spanish media did not. Real Madrid contacts saw it as encouragement. Barcelona, despite their financial issues, paid attention. And Liverpool fans were forced to confront a possibility many elite clubs have faced: world-class players often end up drawn to La Liga’s glamour.
In hindsight, that interview reads like the opening page of Salah’s slow-building exit story.
2. The Contract Saga That Exposed Salah’s Growing Frustrations
Jump ahead to early 2021, when Salah entered a tense, dragged-out negotiation with the Liverpool board. During this period, he made one of his most revealing public remarks—one that expressed both his desire to stay and his irritation with how talks were progressing.
Speaking to Norwegian television, he said:
At face value, it sounded respectful. But underneath, the message was sharper.
Salah was pointing toward the club’s executives rather than the coaching staff. In essence, he was saying:
“I want to remain here—but they’re not offering what I believe I’ve earned.”
The tension stemmed from Liverpool’s strict internal policy:
avoid giving long, high-salary contracts to players over 30.
Salah was approaching that age, and the club were reluctant to bend their structure. For a player delivering world-class numbers year after year, it felt dismissive—almost insulting. It marked a shift in his relationship with the club, a turning point where the trust began to crack.
3. Firmino’s Exit… and Salah Confronts His Own Longevity
By 2024, Liverpool were quietly rebuilding. Sadio Mané had already departed. Roberto Firmino—Salah’s closest companion in the front three—left the club soon after. In the aftermath, Salah, usually bright and relentlessly driven, offered a rare moment of vulnerability.
In November 2024, he said
