Salah: The Pharaoh who achieved immortality

2026-03-26 - 23:40

It’s just as well that Mo Salah found a bit more gold to ensure that his legacy will always glitter. The trademark left-footed curler to the top corner against Galatasaray was not just a glorious flashback; it was a timely reminder of vintage Salah. Longevity has always been a thing with Egyptian kings, and Liverpool’s superstar is no exception. No one has spent more than the Pharaohs in the quest for immortality. And the 33-year-old wasn’t going to allow a disturbed few months to jeopardise his place in the Liverpool pantheon. He was actually having a bit of a ‘mare: badly missing a penalty and fluffing his lines. But the deftest of one-twos with Florian Wirtz and a waft of that left-foot wand and all was well with the world. A few more incisive touches and a fresh glint in his eye, and the Kop knew they had their old Mo back and no longer a disgruntled impersonator. Then, after missing last Sunday’s loss at Brighton through injury, came one of those announcements that make Liverpudlians stop in their tracks. The exits of Bill Shankly, Kenny Dalglish and Jurgen Klopp all made Merseysiders feel that Earth might be coming off its axis. Salah’s was nothing like as high on the Richter, but was still greeted by a great sense of loss. However, there was also relief in finally getting some clarity. It was a clean break with a free transfer so there would be no haggling to degrade the relationship. Liverpool can look forward to new targets and will get a huge burden off the wage bill. For Salah, there will be a new beginning, probably closer to home in the Saudi Pro League. And the chance to bang in a few more goals to further enhance his reputation. Not to mention keeping a closer eye on the infrastructure he’s building in his home village of Nagrig. And there’s the small matter of the World Cup, where he’ll lead the Pharaohs to their fourth appearance in the finals. None of this will erase the memory of his mid-season strop. Nor consistent failure to approach the dizzy heights of eight previous campaigns. But this goal and late cameo, followed by this agreement, will guarantee the kind of sendoff he craves – and deserves. There is still a lot to play for: Champions League, Champions League qualification and the FA Cup. Is it fanciful to think that club and player will mutually benefit from this decision? And can yet salvage silverware from a season plagued by problems, Salah being one of the biggest? There is even talk of a certain Swede being close to match fitness. Remember Alexander Isak? Well, Arne Slot has had plenty of time to think about how he’ll fit him in. Salah’s departure has been compared to Eric Cantona’s sudden decision to quit Manchester United in 1997. But the Frenchman made a point of bowing out at the very top, after winning four league titles in five years. And when he’d fallen out of love with football. This is very different. Cantona was a maverick who was an inspiration to United. But Salah is a superior player and still hungry. He’s among the very best half dozen to have graced the EPL and one of Liverpool’s all-time greats. He has a magic that Cantona would call “Je ne sais quoi” (I don’t know what). No longer at the very peak of his powers, but he’s still on the upper slopes. He and Liverpool both know that, and it’s good for everyone that they’ve come to an amicable agreement. The spat with Slot was no way to end what has been an overwhelmingly positive story. A more ruthless approach would have been to cash in on him in January but that opportunity was missed. He must regret saying he was thrown under a bus. He threw himself there, but for all he’s done for the club, he can be forgiven. The Times has compared him to Tiger Woods and Roger Federer. In cricket, he would empty the bar. And it all seemed so unlikely when Klopp had to be persuaded to buy him for £34 million in 2017. Jose Mourinho is said to have reduced him to tears at Chelsea and treated Kevin de Bruyne with similar gruff neglect. Although the Special One denies being the one who wanted to sell Salah, he called him “a lost kid”, talented, hungry, but struggling to settle in London. As well as making even non-believers swoon, he was both a great goalscorer and a scorer of great goals. And goals of all types. Whether dancing mesmerically around a minefield of enemy legs, sprinting 50m to slot home, or simply cutting across the “D” to arrow one into the top corner, he had them all in his repertoire. Third on Liverpool’s all-time list, he became a hero to the red half of the city. “The Leavin’ of Liverpool” is mythologised in a Sixties song of that name, by the Dubliners, and mainly because of its chorus line: It’s not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me. But my darling when I think of thee. It’s probably best explained by current Mayor Steve Rotheram, who told The Guardian: “It’s a place with very close bonds, and when someone like Mo is taken to the heart of the city – beyond football – that really resonates.” Fans everywhere have taken him to their hearts, but in Liverpool, he’s the Egyptian King who achieved immortality. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.