Cristiano Ronaldo warned he risks being displaced as ‘biggest name’ in Saudi Pro League
MOHAMED SALAH would displace Cristiano Ronaldo as the biggest name in the Saudi Pro League if he makes the move from Liverpool, according to ex-Manchester United star Lee Sharpe.
The 32-year-old’s Liverpool future is currently in doubt, with his contract set to expire next June.
On Sunday he revealed he is yet to receive a new offer from the club.
Salah even suggested he is more likely to leave than stay at Anfield come the end of the season.
Following Liverpool’s 3-2 win over Southampton at St Mary’s, the winger said: “Well, we are almost in December and I haven’t received any offers yet to stay in the club. I’m probably more out than in.
“I’m not going to retire soon so I’m just playing, focusing on the season and I’m trying to win the Premier League and hopefully the Champions League as well.
“I’m disappointed but we will see.”
Salah has been heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabia over the 18 months.
Al-Ittihad pushed to sign him in a huge £170million transfer last summer, but Liverpool rejected the bid.
With the winger potentially in line to leave Merseyside in a free transfer next year, he could be the subject of a huge transfer battle among several Saudi clubs.
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And if he were to join the star-studded Pro League, he would become the biggest name.
That is according to ex-Man Utd winger Sharpe, who claims he would dominate the division.
Sharpe told Racing Tipster: “I can only imagine Mohamed Salah would go to Saudi Arabia, as I don’t think anyone else will be able to afford him.
“There’s also nowhere else he could go in Europe that’s a bigger club, with a bigger fanbase, crowd and atmosphere than he has at Liverpool – he’s not going to go to Manchester United, that’s for sure!
“He’ll likely just want to secure his future and have an easier life in Saudi.
“If he did go there, he’d be the biggest player in the Saudi Pro League – he’s still young and fit enough to dominate.
“We see Cristiano Ronaldo doing well over there, but I think Salah is a better player and a bigger name than him these days.”
Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher admitted he was “disappointed” with Salah’s comments during an appearance on Monday Night Football.
He said: “Of course, there’s been discussions. Right now, there’s obviously a big difference in valuation, how Salah and his agent value themselves, in terms of length of contract, and how Liverpool do.
“So the reason Liverpool wouldn’t have offered a contract yet is because Mo Salah will turn it down.
“They’re still in talks, I’m desperate for them to meet in the middle. But I must say, I am very disappointed with Mo Salah. That interview last night…
“Liverpool have Real Madrid in midweek and Manchester City next weekend. That’s the story for Liverpool right now.
“And Mo Salah, we’re aware – certainly the local reporters near the club – that in seven years he’s stopped in the mixed zone twice.
“That’s absolutely fine. But he stops for the third time away at Southampton on the back of winning Liverpool the game and putting that out.
“If he continues to put comments out or his agent continues to put cryptic tweets out, that is selfish.
“That’s thinking about themselves and not the football club.”