Arne Slot is the reason behind Mohamed Salah’s imminent exit this summer, reports following Liverpool’s embarrassing FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester City.
Salah will walk away from a contract that pays him £485,000 per week (£25m.2m per season) at Liverpool, and Mohamed Aboutrika claims Slot’s performance as Reds manager is the reason behind it.
Liverpool were thrashed 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium in the quarter-final of the FA Cup on Saturday, with Salah missing a penalty after City made it 4-0, but the Egyptian was not the only player who performed dismally.
Speaking after full-time, Egyptian football legend Mohamed Aboutrika said: “We have seen nine fruitful years for Liverpool with Salah, all titles and individual and collective awards. Every season he gave the fans different things.
“With Klopp, we saw the trio of Firmino, Sadio Mane, and Mohamed Salah. They were playing top-class football. Salah had nine unforgettable years, and it is the numbers and achievements that immortalise a player’s career. We enjoyed his career, and all subsequent generations will learn from him.
“Salah knows best about his decision and why he made it. I am not aware of all the circumstances, but one of the reasons is Slot. We saw the crises during the recent period… Slot pushed Mohamed Salah to leave.
“Salah wants to work in a good mood during the coming years and enjoy himself, and he will receive the expected crowning achievement from his fans and the fans of the competitors… We lived with him for 9 years of pride and honor, and I hope that he will present a wonderful World Cup tournament with the Egyptian national team.”
? It’s not the best time to talk about, but it worth to be shared, Egypt legend Mohamed Aboutrika, Salah’s former teammate, idol, and close friend, confirmed that he spoke with Mohamed Salah after he announced his decision to leave Liverpool, and confirmed what we exclusively…
— Ismael Mahmoud – ??????? ????? (@ismaeelmahmoudd) April 4, 2026
Liverpool owe it to Salah to end on something of a high
The chances for Liverpool to achieve something notable this season are fading fast. Beating PSG to reach the Champions League semi-final now seems even more unlikely, but Liverpool owe it to Salah to end the season on a high.
The Egyptian has given his all to Liverpool, but for the first time in his career with the Reds, he needs his teammates to drag themselves to a trophy for his sake. Last season saw Salah score 34 goals and assist 23 after promising fans that Liverpool would bounce back from a disappointing finish in 23/24.
We know that trophies are what count and we will do everything possible to make that happen next season. Our fans deserve it and we will fight like hell. pic.twitter.com/HU98ACVr6q
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) May 20, 2024
At his press conference before the FA Cup defeat to Man City, Slot spoke about replacing Salah. The Dutchman correctly pointed out that there isn’t a like for like replacement anywhere in Europe.
Arne Slot on Salah replacements
Arne Slot on if Liverpool are drawing up replacement plans for post Salah era and says much of the focus is finding solutions from within: “Of course we do. We are not starting to work on it now because we are constantly working on where we can improve.
“There is not a lot talked about this, but it is 88 minutes that Isak, Ekitike and Wirtz were together on the pitch together.
“So let’s first find out and work out how that works together and that can give us so much more. It is never one player who can replace Mo.
“Otherwise there would be 15 or 20 Mos and he is one of a kind, which is why he is so special. You cannot find a Mo replacement. Maybe you can but he would not be available.”