Mohamed Salah’s future has come under question this week after he spoke about his future on Sunday, and now Alan Shearer has had his say on what the Liverpool forward said
Alan Shearer has defended Mohamed Salah for speaking about his future after Liverpool’s win over Southampton on Sunday. The Egyptian, who scored twice as the Reds came from behind to beat Russell Martin’s side, admitted after the game that he is yet to receive an offer from the club over a new contract.
Salah, 32, has just over six months to run on his current deal and there are concerns that he might leave on a free transfer next summer. “Well, we are almost in December and I haven’t received any offers yet to stay in the club, [so] I’m probably more out than in,” Salah admitted.
“You know I have been in the club for many years. There is no club like this. But in the end it is not in my hands. As I said before, it is December and I haven’t received anything yet about my future.”
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Salah has been both praised and slammed by sections of the media and the Liverpool fanbase for his comments, with Jamie Carragher among his biggest critics. The former Liverpool defender branded Salah as “selfish” and admitted he was “very disappointed” that he opened up about his future.
Now, former Newcastle and Blackburn forward Alan Shearer, who is the Premier League record goalscorer, has delivered his verdict on Salah’s future admission. He told Betfair: “There’s no doubt Mo Salah was told to say what he said at the weekend by his agent to try and put pressure on the football club.
“It was noticeable he said he ‘hadn’t been offered a contract’. He didn’t say that talks hadn’t been going on. They’re two separate things, I think. He was looking after himself and his agent was telling him to do that, there’s no doubt of that because he very rarely stops in the media zone after games.
“I didn’t have a problem with what Mo did. When clubs want to get rid of you, they get rid of you and don’t have any empathy or sympathy towards you, so he was looking after his situation.
“I know Liverpool are going after a title but he’s also got to look after himself. Likewise, when the club has to look after itself, they will. It works both ways. He’s a Premier League great there’s no doubt. Whatever happens to him, whether he stays or goes, he will be looked upon as an icon of the Premier League.
“The number of times he’s rescued Liverpool as he did at the weekend again. When you’ve got him in your team, you’ve always got a chance. It’s clear that Salah won’t slow down. The player and club will have to look at the situation and whether it becomes more intense as the months go on.
“Mentally, when you’re in the last three or four months of your contract, do you then start thinking about injuries? Because if you get one, you know what would happen at the end but at the minute, there’s no effect whatsoever and Liverpool are flying at the minute with Arne Slot doing a great job.
“Arne Slot is right, Salah’s situation won’t affect the team. You wouldn’t be interested in that as another player. He’s got his mates in the dressing room and that won’t affect them at all.”
