Mohamed Salah seems imperturbable, about to play what will perhaps be his last “Boxing Day” in the colors of Liverpool. Thursday December 26, at 9 p.m., the Reds welcome Leicester, on behalf of the Premier League, the first division of English Football. And it is crowned with a new record that the 32-year-old Egyptian striker will set foot on the Anfield pitch: author of a double and two assists four days earlier, during his team's clear success against Tottenham (3-6), he became the first player in the history of the championship to reach the symbolic threshold of ten goals and ten assists before Christmas – he has 15 and 11 respectively, the best current total in both categories.
Read also | Article reserved for our subscribers CAN 2024: Mohamed Salah, pharaoh of Egypt still without scepter
Read later
His future with the club is nevertheless uncertain. His contract ends in June 2025 and he has not yet received any extension offers. The person concerned made no secret of his desire to continue the adventure on the banks of the Mersey, even if the situation « is not between [ses] mains ». Recruited in the summer of 2017 for 42 million euros, Mohamed Salah impresses with his consistency. Fourth top scorer in the history of his club, he is also the 8the the most prolific player in the annals of the Premier League, with 172 goals in the league (including two in the Chelsea jersey), three points behind Thierry Henry.
Sunday November 24, after yet another double offering victory to his team, against Southampton (2-3), Mohamed Salah, although unaccustomed to speaking to the press, publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with his contractual situation. “It’s almost December and I haven’t received any offers to stay at the club yet”he said coldly. And to deplore: “I'm probably closer to leaving. »
One of the highest paid players in England
If this media release was intended to make the management of the Reds react, it did not fail to arouse its share of criticism across the Channel. Including that of the former Scousers defender now television consultant, Jamie Carragher, who described “selfish” the behavior of the Egyptian, during “Monday Night Football”, a talk show broadcast on the British channel Sky Sports. “Every Liverpool journalist knows that Mo Salah has had to stop twice in the mixed zone since joining the club seven years agorecalls the winner of the 2005 Champions League. The goal is to win the Premier League, that's more important than any player. »
Also read the portrait (2018) | Mohamed Salah, the footballer who makes Liverpool love Islam
Read later
Daniel Sturridge, who was Mohamed Salah's teammate with the Reds, conversely gave him his support: “It’s a question of respect. He scored over 200 goals with the club. You won't find an individual player at this level of efficiency. It is very rare on the market. » According to the tabloid The Daily Mirrornegotiations are reportedly underway for a two-year renewal. But there is still nothing official.
“If it’s a two-year contract and it requires a lot of money, you have to pay it”judge Daniel Sturridge, while Mohamed Salah has the third highest salary in the English championship with an annual amount of 21.27 million euros and, for some observers in the industry, an increase seems unwise given his age. “I'm not saying he shouldn't have a two-year contract, I'm not saying he shouldn't have a big salarydevelops, for his part, Jamie Carragherbut this saying “give him what he wants”… This club is not built to give people what they want. »
This soap opera which divides in England is not about to end. Liverpool supporters, who nickname their star striker “the Egyptian king”, want to see him stay in 2025. His sporting performances are a strong argument. His contract expiring in six months, Mohamed Salah can, from Wednesday 1is January (day the transfer window opens), open negotiations with other teams.
Manchester City more than ever in crisis
Boxing Day brought no comfort to Manchester City. The winner of six of the last seven Premier League titles, the English championship, was held in check by poorly ranked Everton (1-1) on Thursday December 26 at home. Pep Guardiola's team no longer knows how to win, or almost. Since the end of October, she has only won one of the thirteen matches she has played (compared to three draws and nine defeats) in the different competitions in which she has played.
This collapse not only puts an end to the hope of a new Premier League title, but it becomes worrying in view of qualification for the next Champions League. The day after Christmas, the Citizens' sixth place in the league (28 points) is under threat from Aston Villa (7e28 points) et Newcastle (8e26 points), even Fulham and Brighton, 25 points each.
