Mohamed Salah’s future at Liverpool remains uncertain, despite his desire to stay. After a stellar performance in the 3-0 win over Manchester United, he made headlines by hinting that this might be his final season with the Reds. Is he following Firmino’s fate?
While he later clarified that no contract talks have begun, it is clear his future is hanging in the balance. At 32, Salah remains in top form, with three goals and three assists already this season.
Will Salah follow the footsteps of Firmino?
However, with his lucrative £350 k-a-week deal expiring next summer, Liverpool are facing a dilemma. Do they extend his contract, knowing he will be in his mid-30s by the time it ends?
Liverpool’s past decisions with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino show that desire alone may not be enough to stay. Despite Firmino’s wish to remain, the club let him go. Salah’s future now depends on whether Liverpool are willing to commit long-term to their star player.
In his autobiography, ‘Si Senor’, released last year, Firmino recalled how his Liverpool exit unfolded. He started the 2022/23 season having been told the Reds also wanted him to stay put, yet come March 2023, he too took the decision out of the club’s hands and decided to move on.
Had he stayed, it would have been on reduced terms. And while that was no issue for the Brazilian, still negotiations dragged on as squabbles continued over the length of his contract and role in the squad.
What Firmino has revealed?
“In August 2022, while still on pre-season, Liverpool told my representatives that they wanted me to stay as well. A contract renewal wasn’t something I lost sleep over back then; it seemed like a formality, a matter of time…”
He recalled,
“My representatives were talking with the club about the contract renewal and disagreements were starting to arise. The club saw things one way, we saw them another…
“Klopp called me for a conversation in his hotel room before a match. ‘We really want to keep you’, he said. He insisted that if we just sorted out the salary, we could speed up the renewal process. I agreed with him. It shouldn’t be a problem. I told him I would discuss the matter with my agents and ask them to finalise the deal…
“We returned from Dubai, and then it was time to definitely sort out my contract, which had always been my desire. I made my intentions clear to my agents. I wanted to stay. I didn’t want to hear about offers from other European clubs or other parts of the world. My life was in Liverpool…”
A difference in opinion
“A difference in opinion about my role was emerging. In the view of my representatives, I was a top-tier player in world football and should be given a renewal that reflected that. From the club’s business perspective, Roberto Firmino’s peak had passed.
“My salary was quite high, significant investments had been made in new players and some contract extensions… In the club’s view, the future was secured with Gakpo, Darwin, Luis and Diogo Jota. And, of course, Salah had renewed his contract.
“I still thought there was a place for me in this attack… Klopp had told the management he wanted me to stay, but the club’s view was that I would no longer be a protagonist…
“I accepted a shorter contract – one year instead of two. I told the club I would accept a significant salary reduction. That wasn’t an issue. Money didn’t matter.”
What was the problem?
“But communication was muddled and responses were slow. One week… three weeks… a month. We kept compromising, but it didn’t seem like there was a real willingness on the other side to finalise negotiations.
“Things dragged on through January and February. By that point, my agents told me that they were only continuing negotiations with the club out of respect for my desire to stay and the love we had for Liverpool…
“I called my agents. Roger Wittmann and Christian Rapp met with me for a face-to-face talk… Christian and Roger were perfectly transparent about everything that was happening and the club’s view of my future. It wasn’t a war. It was just a difference in understanding about what I could offer Liverpool.”
The key difference between Salah and Firmino is their current status in the team. Salah is still a crucial figure for Liverpool, while Firmino had lost that guaranteed spot. Despite Firmino being willing to accept reduced terms and a one-year extension, the club chose not to renew his contact.
Salah, however, holds a stronger position as he enters the final year of his deal. His intentions to stay are clear, but it remains uncertain if Liverpool will align with his wishes. Sometimes, even the desire to remain is not enough to secure a future at Anfield.
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