During his eight-and-a-half years at Liverpool, Mohamed Salah was beloved by fans, who rate the ‘King of Egypt’ as one of the club’s greatest ever players.
But Salah’s character has been questioned by fans, former players and others since he unexpectedly claimed to be Liverpool’s scapegoat for the club’s poor performances and was picked as a substitute for three consecutive games by head coach Arne Slott.
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So who is Salah away from the latest headlines?
Over the past few months, BBC Sport has spoken to some of those who know him best to find out more about the personality and resilience of the man behind the goals, glory and gossip.
“You only have problems when Mo doesn’t play”
Salah’s relentless attitude and refusal to accept lowering of standards for himself or those around him have underpinned Liverpool’s success and may explain why he has struggled to deal with criticism of his diminished role.
“We are all very influenced by our past – how we grew up, where we grew up,” said Jurgen Klopp, who won every major trophy in English and European football while coaching Salah at Anfield. “Mo knew early on [in his life] He has to do more than others.
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“He’s always improving. He never stops. That’s his mentality.
“After every summer break, he would come back and master a new skill. It was like he had been practicing a specific type of pass the entire time.
“We pushed each other just to make sure we never stopped. We never stopped. That moment lifting the Premier League trophy bonded us for life. He will be remembered as one of the greatest players of all time.”
“I wouldn’t say he’s easy to manage, but he’s not difficult to manage either. You [only] If Salah doesn’t play or you take him off, he’s going to be in trouble. “
Salah has been criticized by some for not speaking to the media more often before stepping into the mixed zone at Elland Road in Leeds, particularly after the defeat and poor performance.
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He was accused of lacking leadership. But he has often issued a rallying cry to fans on social media during difficult moments, and those who have played alongside him describe Salah as a man who refuses to give up and is able to inspire others.
“He was always trying to prove people wrong,” said former Liverpool team-mate Adam Lallana.
“He’s not a macho guy. I always tell my kids how he behaves and he doesn’t get too excited when he’s good and he doesn’t beat himself up too much when he’s down. He’s always completely focused on the job at hand.
“I would watch him and it would make me feel calm because he was always in control.
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“Knowing Mo, he’s going to keep fighting, staying resilient, and trying to find ways to better himself.”
“Never give up – is there a better situation than this?” Klopp said of the T-shirt worn by an injured Salah during Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Barcelona in 2019. Lallana said the T-shirt had “motivated” the team. James Milner kept one at home. [Getty Images]
“He wanted to be the best at everything”
Speaking at Elland Road, Salah defended his record and compared himself to England captain Harry Kane, believing it reminded those inside and outside Liverpool who had forgotten what he was capable of.
Perhaps all elite athletes have a certain level of arrogance, and some believe it is this arrogance that has allowed Salah to reach the heights he and Liverpool have achieved.
“He’s a really good guy considering the success he’s had – becoming a global superstar,” said James Milner, Liverpool’s vice-captain for much of Salah’s time at the club.
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“He played like he had a chip on his shoulder. He wanted to be the best at everything – he even hired a chess teacher to improve his game and gave me a couple of hard hits.
“You need different types of leaders and Mo is a big leader in this group, in terms of the standards he sets every day. When you have young players coming in to sign, they see him and think ‘this is what it takes to be a top player, this is what it takes to be a Liverpool player’.”
That desire to always be the best turned into a rivalry – sometimes fraught – with teammate Sadio Mane, another of Liverpool’s flying forwards who played opposite Salah for five seasons.
“Are they best friends? No,” Klopp said. “When Mo tries to finish the shot himself, does he pass the ball a few times? Yes. But on the pitch, they support each other and fight with each other.”
During his time at Liverpool, Salah demonstrated his competitiveness both on and off the pitch. [Getty Images]
“Don’t let us all raise our heads”
More than just a footballer, Salah is a global socio-cultural icon, ranked as one of the most influential people in the world, leading conversations on human rights and changing attitudes towards Muslims through demonstrations of faith.
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He was born in Nagrig, a rural village about 100 miles from Cairo, home to some 15,000 residents, most of whom make a living as farmers and more than half of whom live in poverty.
It’s almost impossible that such a region could produce one of the world’s greatest athletes.
“He has stood out from an early age because of his discipline,” said Nagrig Mayor Maher Anwar Shtiyeh. “Despite his fame and global recognition, he remains deeply rooted in his roots.
“He found true happiness only while spending time with his family and friends in his village. He was a role model for Egyptian youth, Arab youth and youth throughout the Islamic world. He gave us all a lift to our heads.”
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As a child, Salah would travel up to five hours by minibus from his village to the capital, where he played youth football for top club Arab Contractors.
This helped him develop a resilience that, with the support of loved ones, guided him throughout his career.
“As a young kid, you have to have a strong willpower to follow your dreams,” said former national team teammate Ahmed Elmohammadi.
“His wife is from the same village and they grew up together, which is great because she knows everything about him and has always supported him.
“Anyone in the village now who comes to him for support, he will support them. It shows what a great man he is.”
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After leaving Egypt, Salah maintained close ties with Nagriq and funded an ambulance station, a charitable foundation and a religious institution in the area.
Salah has proudly expressed his faith throughout his career – he prays when he steps onto the pitch and after scoring a goal.
“When I first met Mo, he came here quite often,” said Shafique Rahman, the imam of the Liverpool Mosque and Madrassah. “After training he would come a little late. We had people outside waiting to see him, but no one bothered him while he was praying.
“The essence of religion is that everyone is the same in the eyes of God. When people come to pray, they stand very close and touch each other’s shoulders. Mo feels very safe here.”
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“Getting up every day and wanting to be the best – it’s a different mentality”
When Salah first moved to England – signed by Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea after impressing in Basel, Switzerland – he struggled to express his personality in a team full of established stars and lacked confidence.
“When I first met him, he was 21 years old — very naive,” said former teammate Mark Schwarzer. “He was coming to London – a big city, a different culture – and I think he was a bit intimidated.
“When he signed, he walked into a dressing room full of international stars – players who were used to winning, and a manager who was a legend at the club. For new players, it’s make or break.
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“The more he didn’t score, the more frustrated he became. There was one moment in the dressing room where Jose actually kicked a table and focused a lot of his frustration on Mo, and then he took him off. Mo was obviously frustrated.
“It’s all a credit to him, his determination, his dedication and everything that allowed him to keep going and achieve what he did.”
Salah rebuilt his career in Italy’s Serie A – first on loan with Fiorentina and then Roma, earning a reputation as a leader on the field and the ultimate professional.
“He’s just different,” explains BBC commentator and former England and Manchester City defender Micah Richards, who played alongside Salah at Fiorentina. “You see characters who do things by the book — he’s that guy.
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“He always went to bed early, always ate healthy. He clearly thought, ‘I’m going to show everyone what I can do. Everyone who doubts me will eat their words.’ That’s what he did.”
For a young African, setting standards for European colleagues to follow was a challenge in itself.
“To be successful in Europe you have to understand the culture of where you play, where you live, without losing any of your principles,” said Mido, a former Egypt striker who played for the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Roma and Ajax. “That’s the balance he’s achieved.
“He made young boys in Africa dream – ‘If someone from my background can make it to the top, why can’t I make it?'”
Nagrig fans were ecstatic when Salah scored the first goal in the 2019 Champions League final [Getty Images]
“Mo left a deep mark on me.”
Even before Salah made his comments after the 3-3 draw with Leeds United, doubts had been raised over his future.
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Concerns about his performance have already been raised within Liverpool and transfer rumors have intensified this week, with sources telling the BBC the Reds are open to selling the 33-year-old.
Salah isn’t the only hero at the club – he and Slott suggest his tenure at the club could end in the January transfer window – (possibly) ending in public condemnation.
In different contexts, Javier Mascherano, Fernando Torres and Trent Alexander-Arnold all suffered similar fates, while shirts bearing the legendary Steven Gerrard’s name were set ablaze in the streets as he was about to join Chelsea in 2005.
If Salah’s love affair with Liverpool ends here, his impact on those around him will not soon be forgotten.
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“He was one of the first people to welcome me and welcomed me in an incredible way,” Luis Diaz said. He spent three and a half years alongside Salah in Liverpool’s forward line before joining Bayern Munich earlier this year.
“He came up to me and said, ‘If you need my help, I’m here for you.’ I remember him telling me on the court: ‘Let’s try this… let’s take action and make it work.’ “Then it comes into play in the game.
“It was an incredible feeling to share the moment of lifting the Premier League title with him and to see how happy he was and how much he enjoyed it.
“He always wanted to be a better player and a better person and he left a huge mark on me.”
