Mohamed Salah’s impending departure from Liverpool FC has taken a more revealing turn, with his close friend and former Egypt teammate Mohamed Aboutrika openly pointing to Arne Slot as a key factor behind the decision.
The Egyptian forward, who confirmed he will leave Anfield at the end of the 2025/26 season, is set to bring down the curtain on a historic nine-year spell that has redefined his legacy at the club.
While the exit was initially framed as a personal and timely choice, Aboutrika’s comments have added weight to growing suggestions of internal tension, particularly surrounding Slot’s management and the well-documented strain between the pair in recent months.
The end is now in sight for Mohamed Salah at Liverpool FC, with the forward confirming he will leave in June 2026 after nine remarkable years at Anfield.
His numbers underline the scale of that legacy.
Across 436 appearances, he has scored 255 goals and provided 122 assists, becoming the club’s most consistent attacking outlet in the modern era.
He also leaves as the highest-scoring African in Premier League history, while his 53 Champions League goals for Liverpool stand as a club record.
Even in a turbulent 2025/26 campaign, Salah has contributed 11 goals and nine assists, although his form has dipped in recent weeks, including the heavy 4–0 defeat to Manchester City.
However, the story of his exit cannot be told without examining his strained relationship with manager Arne Slot.
Tensions began earlier in the season when tactical changes restricted Salah’s attacking freedom.
Matters escalated in December when he was benched multiple times, leading to public frustration.
Reports later suggested a breakdown in communication, with both men barely speaking during the second half of the season.
Slot has since insisted he has no regrets, but from a Liverpool perspective, the situation has clearly contributed to the premature end of one of the club’s greatest modern eras.
Speaking on beIN SPORTS, Salah’s close friend and former international teammate Mohamed Aboutrika offered the clearest indication yet of what drove the decision.
He said, “I hope he bids farewell to Liverpool with a championship, but he doesn’t need any other championships.”
“Salah is one of the players who quickly win hearts.”
“God has given him acceptance.”
“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.”
He continued by reflecting on Salah’s peak years under Jurgen Klopp, “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 immortalize a player’s career.”
“We enjoyed his career, and all subsequent generations will learn from him.”
Aboutrika then made his stance clear on Salah’s standing in the game, “Look how Pep Guardiola spoke about him.”
“Salah was one of his rivals and scored the most goals against the teams he coached.”
“He doesn’t need a certificate from anyone, not from Slot or anyone else.”
Crucially, he pointed directly at the current manager when discussing the exit, “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.”
He concluded by revealing private conversations with Salah, “I spoke with him and told him about the preferred destination to go there.”
“My relationship with him is one of brotherhood and friendship.”
“I love him for the sake of God and I will not use my relationship with him for work.”
“I told him my point of view on his next destination.”
From a Liverpool viewpoint, this confirms what many supporters feared.
The departure is not just about timing or opportunity.
It is also about a relationship that broke down at a critical moment.
🎙️ أبو تريكة: صلاح لا يحتاج شهادة من أحد … هو أسطورة من أساطير الدوري الإنجليزي
محمد صلاح يعرف جيدًا اتخاذ القرار الذي يناسب مستقبله#beINSTUDIO pic.twitter.com/6n2ZsaQQt3
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) April 4, 2026
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