The crisis within Liverpool Football Club has escalated to unprecedented levels, with former England and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney entering the fray in the ongoing conflict between Egyptian star Mohamed Salah and the Reds' management, led by new coach Arne Slott. Rooney launched a scathing attack on the "Egyptian Pharaoh," arguing that his recent actions and media statements could jeopardize everything he has built at Anfield.
Rooney: Salah is destroying his own legacy
In the latest episode of his podcast, Rooney didn't hold back in his harsh criticism of how Salah handled his anger after the Leeds United match. Salah had made controversial statements accusing the club's management and coach of "sacrificing" him, which Rooney considered a major lapse in the player's career. Rooney stated bluntly: "Mohamed Salah is destroying his historic legacy at Liverpool with his own hands. He's spent years since 2017 making history and breaking records, but what's happening now is very unfortunate and doesn't befit the star we know.".
Shocking advice for Sloth: Leave him out of the Italy trip
England's all-time leading scorer didn't stop at verbal criticism; he also offered bold tactical and managerial advice to coach Arne Slot, urging him to immediately assert his authority to salvage the dressing room. Rooney suggested excluding Salah from the squad traveling to Italy to face Inter Milan in the Champions League, saying: "If I were Slot, I wouldn't let him go. He needs to sit down with him and tell him clearly: 'What happened is unacceptable. You're not with the team now. Go back to your national team and let things calm down.'".
Historical context and importance of the decision
These statements take on particular significance given Liverpool's precarious situation in the post-Jürgen Klopp era. Since joining in 2017, Salah has been the cornerstone of the team's success, but this season has seen a worrying decline, with the player scoring only 4 goals in 13 matches and starting on the bench in the last 3 games. The team currently sits in ninth place, 10 points behind the league leaders, making any decision Slot makes regarding Salah a double-edged sword; he could either impose discipline and restore order within the club, or lose his star player and descend into a dark period of internal conflict.
Arrogance or overconfidence?
Rooney addressed Salah's statement that he "doesn't have to fight for his place every day because he deserves it," describing it as "arrogant and disrespectful" towards his teammates, the manager, and the fans. Rooney added, warning of the impact this mentality could have on new players: "Time passes for everyone, and Salah isn't at his best this season. He should have fought and proven himself again instead of talking like he's above the competition. With those statements, he's the one who sacrificed Liverpool, not the other way around.".
These developments indicate that the relationship between Salah and Liverpool has reached a dead end, pending what the coming days will bring and the decisions of coach Arne Slott before the anticipated European match.
