Mohamed Salah is Liverpool’s saviour this season but shy star won’t be boasting about it ahead of Chelsea clash
Egyptian is the top goalscorer in the Premier League this season after big-money move from Serie A giants Roma
MO SALAH is having a stunning season — he’s the Premier League’s top scorer and inspired Egypt to the World Cup finals. But Liverpool’s winger will not be shouting about it.
If you are hoping for some soundbites from him, or a great quote, you will be waiting a while. Salah rarely does interviews.
So we do not know how he feels about his treatment at former club Chelsea, who visit Anfield today.
It is a safe bet that Salah, 25, probably feels he has a point to prove having been given so few chances at Stamford Bridge.
But despite netting nine times in the Prem, this is not a man who likes to bang his own drum or cash in on his fame back home.
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic became marketing machines as poster boys of their nation.
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Yet Salah is not raking in the big bucks in Egypt, despite sending them to a first World Cup since 1990.
He once fronted a public campaign for tourism in his country — but now turns down offers to advertise hair products and cars.
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After scoring the penalty which secured Egypt’s qualification with a 2-1 win over Congo, earning cult status in the process, he also snubbed the offer of a luxury villa from a businessman.
Instead, he asked the man to donate money to his home area instead. Salah is from Tanta, a city with a population of 420,000 in between the capital Cairo and Alexandria on the coast. And he is such a hero that he gets mobbed when he goes back.
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The new Anfield idol has already donated over £200,000 for schools and hospitals back home. He is proving to be a champion at Liverpool, too, with 14 goals in 19 appearances.
Despite playing less than nine hours for Chelsea — most as a sub under Jose Mourinho, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp says he has nothing to prove to the Blues.
Klopp said: “If he had played better at Chelsea, we’d probably not have had him — so I am happy at the situation.
“He does not have to prove anything. He was a very young man in a very strong team and did not come through.
That happens often — like with Kevin de Bruyne. Now he has improved and is a special player.”
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Although shy, dealing with the pressure of playing for Egypt has helped Salah grow up.
That is maybe why he is better equipped for life at Liverpool than he was when he moved to Chelsea. Frank
Lampard, who was there when Salah joined, said: “Chelsea took him maybe a little early. He’s quite timid, which I like, but now we are seeing the man.”
Salah’s emergence can be traced back to a dark day in the sporting history of Egypt.
In February 2012, the country was rocked by the massacre of 74 people at Port Said Stadium with Al-Masry supporters attacking Al-Ahly fans. Many were either stabbed or clubbed to death and the Egyptian League was suspended.
During that time, Basel organised a friendly with the Egypt under-23s and Salah — who played for Cairo side El
Mokawloon — scored twice in a 4-3 win. His cameo as a sub impressed the Swiss side so much they snapped him up.
Salah signed for Chelsea for £11million in 2014 before heading for Italy — first to Fiorentina on loan and then to Roma for £12m.
That stint was the making of him, earning a £34.3m summer switch to Liverpool. Ex-Tottenham and Egypt star Mido reckons Salah will play for Real Madrid. Now that would be something for him to yell about.