Mo Salah’s recent exit comments had hidden message for Liverpool chiefs

Mo Salah scored against Manchester United for the seventh game in a row on Sunday.

After assisting Luis Diaz twice and scoring one himself, the Egyptian forward enjoyed another impressive performance at Old Trafford.

However, despite the Reds’ stunning 3-0 victory away to their arch-rivals, it was Salah’s post-match comments which made headlines.

The what…

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, the 32-year-old said: “I was coming to the game, I was saying, ‘look, it could be the last time.

“Nobody in the club talked to me yet about contracts so I was just like, ‘OK, I play my last season and see at the end of the season’.

“I feel I am free to play football – we will see what happens next year.”

Fans were understandably taken back by Salah’s comments and apparent admission this could be the last time he plays Manchester United away, but Football Insider claims there is a good reason behind the forward’s recent ‘media blitz’.

The why…

Although he is set to become a free agent at the end of the season and therefore eligible to discuss a pre-contract with clubs outside of England as early as the New Year, the Liverpool forward would prefer to stay at Anfield.

Consequently, his recent comments about this season being his last are part of a “carefully constructed strategy to further build his profile and coax Liverpool into offering him a new contract”.

However, even though Salah’s preference is to continue at Liverpool and become arguably their greatest ever player, he will not lower his contract, which sees him the side’s highest-earner on £350,000-per week, despite the fact he is nearly 33-years-old.

Nevertheless, after failing to make the move to the Pro League last year after Liverpool rejected a huge £150 million bid from Al-Ittihad, the Egypt international sees his future in England.

During his seven years in Merseyside, Liverpool’s number 11 has scored 214 goals and registered 92 assists in 352 games in all competitions.