Mohamed Salah has finally opened up about his relationship with former teammate Sadio Mane.
The pair were part of one of the most feared attacking trios in modern football, alongside Roberto Firmino.
Under Jurgen Klopp, they led Liverpool to Premier League and Champions League glory, netting hundreds of goals in the process.
But while the goals flowed on the pitch, not everything was as smooth behind the scenes.
Speaking to France Football, Salah said there was “tension” between him and Mane during their time together at Anfield.
The tension reached a boiling point during a match against Burnley, when Mane was visibly frustrated after being subbed. Fans and pundits noticed. Rumours of a rift followed them for years.
Salah didn’t dodge the subject. “Yes, there was tension with Sadio,” he admitted.
“Mind you, we were professional until the end; I don’t think it affected the team. It’s human to want more, I understand that; he’s a competitor. Off the pitch, we weren’t very close, but we always respected each other.”
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Mohamed Salah reveals how many assists he provided Sadio Mane
Despite the rivalry talk, Salah pointed out a key stat many may have forgotten. “I don’t care. People can think what they want; it’s their right,” he said when asked about claims of being selfish.
“But I invite everyone to note that the person who provided Mane with the most assists is me (18).”
It’s a classic case of “pass and shoot” — even if there wasn’t much passing of warm smiles off the pitch.
Mane and Salah played together for five seasons, winning nearly everything there was to win. While they may not have been best friends, they worked like clockwork on the pitch.
So yes, there was tension — but maybe that edge helped bring the best out of both.
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