Mohamed Salah has received overwhelming support in Egypt following his recent criticism of Liverpool, with senior figures and fans closing ranks around the forward amid questions over his club future.
Mohamed Salah caused a stir on December 6 when he claimed the club had “thrown him under the bus”, remarks that drew sharp criticism in the British media.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher described the interview as a “disgrace”, while others argued Salah should not have aired his grievances publicly.
In Egypt, the reaction has been markedly different. Former Egypt assistant coach Diaa El-Sayed said the comments triggered a nationwide response.
“This interview was like a revolution in Egypt,” he said. “Ninety-nine per cent of Egypt supports Salah, and you can see from the reaction at Anfield that the Liverpool fans support him too.”
Salah’s popularity in his home country remains unrivalled. Often referred to as the “Egyptian King”, he is regarded as a national symbol and has previously been used as a protest vote during elections.
“Before Salah, no one supported Liverpool here,” said Cairo resident Noura Essam. “We didn’t have a global figure before him, so we will always support him.”
Anger intensified after Liverpool head coach Arne Slot named Salah on the bench for three successive matches and later left him out of the squad for a Champions League trip to face Inter Milan.
Former Egyptian FA spokesman Osama Ismail said the decision shocked fans at home. “When Liverpool played in Milan, all of Egypt supported Inter Milan,” he said.
Ismail insisted Salah wants to remain at Liverpool, describing him as “not arrogant but confident”. That stance has been echoed within the Egypt camp as preparations continue for the Africa Cup of Nations.
At Cairo International Stadium, where Egypt beat Nigeria 2-1 in a friendly ahead of the tournament, supporters focused on lifting Salah’s morale as the Pharaohs chase a first AFCON title since 2010. Egypt’s Minister of Sports, Ashraf Sobhy, was among those who welcomed the forward back to Cairo this week.
Cairo-based journalist Ahmed Gamal Ali said the reaction was emotional rather than analytical. “We say he is our son, so we were emotionally taken aback because it felt like a humiliation for one of our family,” he said.
“It would be judgmental to say whether he was right or wrong to do the interview, as we didn’t live through his feelings.”
Inside the national team set-up, Salah’s conduct has not been questioned. Staff members described him as a model professional, while many players and officials have publicly backed him on social media.
Head coach Hossam Hassan, the country’s record goalscorer, is understood to have held detailed talks with his captain, believing Egypt’s chances at the tournament depend heavily on Salah’s form.
Before Salah left for AFCON duty, Slot said there was “no issue to resolve” regarding his selection, while several teammates have spoken of their desire for him to stay.
Salah still considers himself a key part of the squad, and discussions between his representatives and the club are expected to continue during his time away with Egypt.
