Salah's Anfield Farewell: The Saudi Millions Await, But What About Europe?
It's happening. After seven electrifying years, 211 goals in 349 appearances, and a trophy cabinet bursting with a Premier League title and a Champions League, Mohamed Salah is walking away from Anfield. The man who arrived as a relative unknown from Roma in 2017 for £34 million is set to depart as one of Liverpool's all-time greats. He delivered the club's first league title in 30 years in 2020, scoring 19 goals that season, and was the Golden Boot winner three times. His contract runs out next summer, and all signs point to a move. The question isn't *if* he's leaving, but *where* he's going.
The Saudi Arabian Gravy Train
Let's be real, this is the most likely destination. Saudi Pro League clubs have been circling Salah for over a year, with Al-Ittihad making a reported £150 million bid last summer. Liverpool rejected it, but you have to wonder if that was the smart play. Salah is 32 now, and while he still bagged 18 Premier League goals this past season, his explosive pace isn't what it once was. The Saudi league offers astronomical wages, far beyond anything a European club would sanction for a player his age. Think Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Al-Nassr, or Karim Benzema's switch to Al-Ittihad. For Salah, it's a chance to secure generational wealth, become the face of a growing league, and play in a less physically demanding environment. He'd instantly be the biggest star there, eclipsing even Ronaldo in terms of global appeal. And frankly, after carrying Liverpool's attack for so long, who could blame him for taking the money? He's earned it.
A European Swansong? Don't Hold Your Breath
Could Salah stay in Europe? Technically, yes. Practically, it's a tough sell. Which elite European club needs a 32-year-old winger on massive wages, especially one who's shown a slight dip in form this past season compared to his peak 32-goal campaign in 2017-18? Real Madrid just signed Kylian Mbappé. Barcelona is broke. Bayern Munich has Leroy Sané and Serge Gnabry. Even PSG, with all their money, seems to be shifting away from signing older superstars. Maybe a sentimental return to Roma, where he scored 15 goals in 31 Serie A games in 2016-17? Unlikely. He'd have to take a significant pay cut, and Salah has never struck me as the kind of player who prioritizes sentimentality over ambition or financial reward. His ambition has always been about being the best, and while he’s still elite, he’s not *the* best anymore.
The Legacy Question and My Hot Take
This move, wherever it is, will define the final chapter of Salah's career. If he goes to Saudi Arabia, he'll be remembered as a Liverpool legend who cashed out, much like Ronaldo. If he somehow engineered a move to another top European club and continued to perform at an elite level, that would be a different story. But I just don't see it happening. My hot take? Salah will join Al-Ittihad on a two-year deal worth north of £100 million per season. He’ll score 25+ goals in his first season there, dominate the league, and quietly fade from the European spotlight, but his legacy at Anfield will remain untouched.
Look, Salah has given Liverpool everything. He delivered the trophies, the moments, the sheer joy. He leaves as the club's fifth-highest goalscorer. He's a legend, full stop. His next move is purely about him.
I predict Salah will sign with Al-Ittihad by the end of August, making him the highest-paid player in the Saudi Pro League.