Steven Gerrard, Liverpool legend and current manager of Saudi club Al Ettifaq, has dismissed rumours of Mohamed Salah’s potential move from the Premier League to the Saudi Pro League. Despite the recent influx of high-profile players to the Saudi club, Gerrard has revealed that he would prefer the Egyptian forward to stay at Anfield.
Liverpool's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (L) and Aston Villa's English head coach Steven Gerrard react at the final whistle during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Aston Villa at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 11, 2021. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
Rumours about Salah’s potential transfer were ignited after reports emerged from Saudi Arabia suggesting that Al Ittihad, a club that has already signed Fabinho from Liverpool and other big names like Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante this season, was gearing up to make a move for Salah. However, Salah’s agent, Ramy Abbas, was quick to dispel these rumors.
Abbas wrote on social media, “If we considered leaving LFC this year, we wouldn’t have renewed the contract last summer. Mohamed remains committed to LFC.”
In an interview with Sada Al Mala’eb, Gerrard was asked if he would like to see Salah swap Liverpool for Saudi Arabia. The former Liverpool captain responded with a laugh, saying, “No. The answer is no because Mohamed Salah is my favourite player, I love Liverpool Football Club, so Mohamed can stay where he is. When he wins more leagues and more Champions Leagues with Liverpool, we’ll maybe consider it.”
الأسطورة جيرارد يتحدث حصريا للصدى: أشارك رجال الاتفاق هدف واحد وهو بناء فريق مميز.. وأقدم الشكر للإدارة ولكل من ساهم في حسم صفقة هندرسون.. وأقدر الفرصة التي حصلت عليها في السعودية#صدى_الملاعب#Shahid
يعرض الآن مجاناً على شاهدhttps://t.co/F5QBC1S5Nj pic.twitter.com/Es5xIslgxd— صدى الملاعب (@sadaalmalaeb) August 7, 2023
Interestingly, Gerrard’s club, Al Ettifaq, made headlines earlier this summer by signing Jordan Henderson from Liverpool, on a lucrative contract. Gerrard explained why he wanted Henderson as his big marquee signing, “I think it’s a combination of things, of course, having a relationship with Jordan, I think there’s a lot of trust and mutual respect both ways,” he said.
Gerrard went on to express his gratitude to the board and the Saudi Pro League for their support in bringing Henderson to the club. He added, “He’s looking forward to the challenge, he’s still got many good years in his legs. We were looking for someone who can be a coach on the football pitch, someone who can lead, someone with a voice, someone who creates real high-class elite standards.”
Gerrard also addressed the criticism he has received for accepting a managerial position in Saudi Arabia, a country with a widely-criticized human rights record. “Life always brings opinions, it always brings people who want to be negative,” Gerrard said. “For me, I’m very positive about being in your country and I very much respect the opportunity that I’ve got.”
