Mohamed Salah has spent much of the last few years being linked with moves away from Liverpool, with Barcelona coming close to luring the Egyptian out of Merseyside in 2022
Mo Salah during training
Mohamed Salah was tempted by Barcelona in the summer of 2022
(Image: Getty Images)
Mohamed Salah transfer drama has become increasingly familiar in recent years, and back in 2022, a particularly tense contract standoff nearly led to a blockbuster move. This season, the Liverpool superstar has resisted the plush, gold-plated appeal of Saudi Arabia - but three years ago, it was Barcelona singing a siren song.
The Catalan giants had dangled the enticing prospect of a free transfer in 2023, when Salah's Liverpool contract was set to expire, and the Egyptian King was considering it. Barcelona's push to win him over was persuasive, although their global stature and magnetism probably did most of the heavy lifting.
After spending his peak years dazzling at Anfield, the then-29-year-old Salah began, somewhat understandably, eyeing new opportunities. Alongside this, he was pushing for a salary that mirrored his goal-laden brilliance, having struck 31 times in consecutive seasons.
Back then, Barcelona were entering a new era under Xavi, eager to restore their former dominance following a three-year La Liga title drought - their longest in over 20 years. With Lionel Messi's departure the previous summer and £88million man Ousmane Dembele underwhelming due to recurring injuries and inconsistency, the club were desperate for a new offensive figurehead.
Salah wasn't actively angling for an exit and had even assured close pals that a renewal with Liverpool was imminent. Still, Barcelona's sudden interest caused a shift in his thinking - and he abruptly slammed the brakes.
It was a delicate point in time: Liverpool and Salah had been deep in renewal talks for over 12 months, and his abrupt hesitation following Barcelona's approach sent a strong and somewhat unsettling signal: not only was he open to leaving, but perhaps even tempted by it.
Lionel Messi and Mo Salah competing for the ball
Barcelona wanted Mo Salah to replace Lionel Messi, who'd left the year before
(Image: Getty Images)
As such, Liverpool were left holding their breath, knowing a free departure for their marquee player would be a devastating setback. Salah had carved out a legendary place in the club's history - helping to deliver their first league title in 30 years, a Champions League triumph, and racking up over 150 goals in the process.
However, his terms were hefty. Already among the highest earners in England on £200,000 a week, Salah was demanding nearly twice that in his next contract. The Reds, mindful of keeping their wage framework intact, hesitated.
Eventually, though, the impasse was short-lived. Within weeks, Salah ended speculation by putting pen to paper on a new three-year agreement, earning a staggering £350,000 per week.
Salah signing a contract
In both 2022 and 2025, Salah ended speculation surrounding his future by extending his Liverpool contract
(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Whether Barcelona's pursuit lit a fire under Liverpool or whether the Spanish club's vision collapsed under financial strain, we'll never be sure. What we do know is that their glittering offer remained just that - a proposal laced with grandeur, but lacking practicality. What lingers is a captivating 'what if.' A brief flirtation that never bloomed into something real.
In football, the line between loyalty and fickleness is razor-thin, and it's a line Salah has walked on multiple occasions. He's listened to offers, considered alternatives, and allowed the gossip to grow, especially during the 2024/25 season, when another tense renewal saga and a mega-deal from Saudi Arabia left him in limbo.
Yet in the end, he's always stayed put. In a sport where loyalty often fades as fast as form, Salah's ongoing dedication to Liverpool stands out. Despite external temptations, he's made the same decision time and again, showing that while his gaze may have drifted, his heart has never truly left Anfield.