why is mohamed salah leaving liverpool
Mohamed Salah isn’t officially confirmed as leaving Liverpool yet, but all the latest reporting and fan discussion points to a summer exit being very likely, and for a mix of football, contractual, and relationship reasons.
Why Is Mohamed Salah Leaving Liverpool?
Quick Scoop
1. The Big Picture
Over the past year, the story around Mohamed Salah at Liverpool has shifted from “untouchable legend” to “huge decision coming soon.”
Rumours of a summer 2026 departure have intensified due to his age, dip in form, wage level, and tension with manager Arne Slot, plus heavy interest from Saudi Arabia and possibly other clubs.
2. Key Reasons Being Reported
1) Performance decline and age
- Salah is now in his mid‑30s and, by several accounts, has lost a fraction of his explosive pace and sharpness.
- After a huge previous season (well over 30 goals in all comps), his current campaign has been notably quieter: single‑digit league goals and a long run without scoring in the Premier League.
- Pundits like Rafael van der Vaart have said he no longer has that “extra half-yard” and looks less able to dominate defenders like before.
2) Massive wages vs future planning
- Salah is on one of the biggest contracts in the club’s history, renewed to run until 2027.
- Liverpool face a classic dilemma: keep paying superstar wages to an ageing forward whose output is dipping, or cash in while he still has big market value. Several reports say the club is wary of letting him run down his deal and leave for free later.
3) Dressing-room and manager tension
- Under Arne Slot, Salah has been benched more often and even left out during important league games, which is a huge contrast to his previous untouchable status.
- He has publicly complained about being “thrown under the bus” and used as a scapegoat for Liverpool’s poor results, clearly hinting his relationship with the club and coach has deteriorated.
- Reports describe a “fallout” or “tumultuous week” between player and manager, even though Slot later tried to calm things by bringing him back into the squad.
4) Transfer pressure from Saudi Arabia (and beyond)
- Saudi Pro League sides have chased Salah for years, with Liverpool previously turning down an offer in the region of £150m from Al Ittihad.
- New reports say Saudi clubs are expected to come back again this summer, and Salah may be more open to a move this time given his situation.
- Some ex‑players have even suggested he could skip Saudi altogether and head back to Italy to stay in European football, showing multiple routes out of Anfield are being floated.
5) “Best for everyone” narrative
- Several pundits now openly say that it might simply be “in everyone’s best interests” if Salah leaves at the end of the season: Liverpool get a fee and wage room, Salah gets a final big move and guaranteed starting role.
- The line you see a lot is that his exit would allow Liverpool to rebuild the attack and avoid a slow, awkward decline of a club legend.
3. What Are Fans and Forums Saying?
Public forums and fan spaces are full of mixed emotions: sadness, frustration, and acceptance.
“He carried us for years, but if he doesn’t accept a reduced role and the manager wants to build something new, maybe it’s time.”
Common viewpoints:
- Gratitude camp :
“He’s a club legend, we should let him go on his terms and not drag this out.”
- Rebuild camp :
“The wage bill, his age, and our form mean this can’t be sentimental — cash in and reinvest.”
- Skeptical camp :
“We’ve heard this before every summer; until it’s signed, it’s just rumors.”
A widely shared forum narrative says Salah wants to keep starting every game, while Slot is signalling a reduced role, and that clash of expectations is pushing him toward the exit.
4. Is It Official That Salah Is Leaving?
Right now, the situation can be summed up as:
- Reports say it is “more probable” or “increasingly likely” he leaves Liverpool in the upcoming summer window.
- There are strong signals of talks or at least serious interest from Saudi clubs, and possibly other destinations, but no fully confirmed transfer announced yet.
- Liverpool’s poor form, Salah’s public criticism, and Slot’s selection choices all combine into a picture where a clean break at season’s end feels very realistic.
So the short version of why is Mohamed Salah leaving Liverpool is:
- He is ageing and not at his previous peak.
- His wages and contract situation push the club toward selling now.
- His relationship with Arne Slot and the club hierarchy has clearly been strained.
- Huge external offers and the chance for one last big move make a departure attractive.
5. Latest Trend and What To Watch Next
- Watch for:
- Concrete bids from Saudi Pro League clubs or an Italian side being reported as “advanced.”
* Any official statements from Liverpool or Salah’s camp shifting the language from “uncertain” to “agreed.”
* Slot’s team selections in crucial games — if Salah continues to be benched or rotated heavily, it will only fuel the sense that the club is preparing for life without him.
If you like, I can next sketch two “story” scenarios — one where Salah chooses Saudi Arabia and one where he goes back to Serie A — to show how his next chapter might realistically play out based on current reporting.
Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.