Mohamed Salah is currently without a club after leaving Liverpool following a fallout with Arne Slot, with Didier Drogba having previously urged the Egyptian to make a 'selfish' return to Chelsea
10:39, 13 Jun 2026Updated 10:44, 13 Jun 2026
Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah's future is once again up in the air(Image: Getty Images)
Mohamed Salah was once urged to abandon Liverpool in favor of a return to Chelsea. The Egyptian forward currently finds himself a free agent following his exit from the Reds after a turbulent final campaign at Anfield, which culminated in a falling-out with former manager Arne Slot.
The 33 year old has been linked with potential switches to Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and perhaps even an Anfield comeback now that Slot has been succeeded by Andoni Iraola. For the time being, however, his attention is firmly fixed on the World Cup with Egypt, who kick off their tournament against Belgium on Monday.
This is far from the first occasion that Salah's future has been shrouded in uncertainty. Even during his time at Liverpool, tensions surfaced well before Slot's arrival at the club.
Back in 2021, Salah found himself locked in a contract dispute with the Reds that was eventually settled with a new agreement. Prior to that deal being finalised, Chelsea icon Didier Drogba was quizzed on the impasse, with the Ivorian imploring Salah to head back to Stamford Bridge, where he had endured a disappointing stint before spells at Roma and Liverpool.
Drogba told Al-Axis TV: "If I am selfish, I will tell Salah to leave Liverpool and return to Chelsea. My opinion is that Salah will remain the best, no matter if he continues at Liverpool or if he moves.", reports the Mirror.
"Any other team would perform better [with him] because he understands what he is doing, is good at scoring and creating goals, and only needs the confidence of the coach.
"I do not know what his decision would be. This is his decision alone and his future, but wherever he goes, I will be one of his fans."
Mohamed Salah and Jose Mourinho
Salah spent a year playing under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea(Image: GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Half a decade later, there are indications that Salah may be receptive to a return to Anfield following Slot's exit. Club chiefs opted to part ways with the Dutchman, believing the squad requires a shift towards a more aggressive, proactive and high-intensity style of play.
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This echoes sentiments Salah expressed in a social media post last month, in which he called for a return to the "heavy metal football" played under his former manager Jurgen Klopp.
Earlier in the campaign, Salah claimed he had been "thrown under the bus" by Slot after being dropped from the starting line-up, remarks that resulted in him being left out of a Champions League fixture before being welcomed back into the fold.
Iraola emerged as Liverpool's primary target after steering Bournemouth to finishes of 12th, ninth and sixth in the Premier League, delivering an attractive, high-tempo brand of attacking football that supporters have long been clamouring for.