Dejan Lovren left Liverpool for Zenit St Petersburg in 2020, and Mohamed Salah was devastated at the departure of his best friend, with Jurgen Klopp sharing his concern for the Egyptian star
Dejan Lovren and Mohamed Salah were teammates at Liverpool
Dejan Lovren and Mohamed Salah were teammates at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Jürgen Klopp disclosed his slight worry for Mohamed Salah following Dejan Lovren's departure from Liverpool in 2020.
Lovren featured 185 times for the Merseyside club during a six-year stint. He also earned 78 international caps for Croatia, which faces England in the Nations League on Saturday. The center-half arrived at Anfield from Southampton in 2014, subsequently forming an enduring bond with Salah, who joined the Reds in 2017 from Roma.
However, in the summer of 2020, having secured both a Premier League crown and the Champions League at Anfield, Lovren departed for Russian side Zenit St. Petersburg. Salah, who himself left Liverpool this summer for Turkish club Trabzonspor, was heartbroken by his closest friend's departure.
Speaking in 2020, Salah said: "I don't know how to say, my friend. I don't know my feeling right now, but we are going to miss you. Especially me.
"You have been an unbelievable player and great friend to me. We are going to miss you a lot. I miss you a lot. I love you so much, and you have been fantastic on and off the pitch. Thank you for everything you have done for the club, and everything you did for me.
"I wish you all the best for the future and wish you have a great career as well and enjoy the new club with your family. Thank you very much and see you soon."
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Lovren left Liverpool in 2020
Lovren left Liverpool in 2020(Image: Getty Images)
Klopp, who departed Liverpool in 2024 and now manages the German national side, expressed his apprehension for the Egyptian forward.
The German remarked: "Yesterday we said, 'Who is now the best friend of Mo?' Because they are real besties. We will miss him; he's a model athlete. He has everything you need. But now he goes to Russia."
The bond between Lovren and Salah has stood the test of time. When Salah faced criticism for publicly commenting on former manager Arne Slot following a match against Leeds in December 2025, Lovren was quick to come to the Egyptian winger's defense.
"Why didn't they talk about him like this for the past eight or nine years? Tell me," Lovren said. "OK, one season and then he's the target again. There are so many other issues.
"I mean, he's being really heavily criticized. Some pundits do it just to attract attention, maybe because they haven't succeeded in other areas of their lives, so now they need to perform well... It just hurts me because I know deep down who Mo is.
"Because he's a really good guy inside with a good mind and a good heart. I honestly don't understand. He deserves so much better."
Lovren departed Zenit after three seasons, during which he claimed three Russian League titles. He subsequently moved to Lyon, where he remained a regular starter for two years.
He currently plies his trade for Greek outfit PAOK.