Former coach speaks out about Salah leaving Liverpool

Former manager Jurgen Klopp has officially spoken after Mohamed Salah confirmed he will leave Liverpool at the end of this season, concluding a glorious nine-year journey at Anfield.

Speaking in a conversation with The Anfield Wrap before the charity match between Liverpool and Dortmund legends, the German strategist said he and Salah exchanged messages early in the week. Klopp sent his best wishes to his former pupil and expressed hope that the Egyptian forward would end the season in the most complete way.

"I know he truly enjoys football when scoring and winning. I hope in the final match, everyone will smile, be happy, and grateful for witnessing one of the greatest careers," Klopp shared.

Speaking about his time working with Salah, the German manager could not hide his pride: "It was joy, challenge, effort from both sides, and ultimately extraordinary achievements. I'm sure Salah dreamed of this at some point, but what he accomplished, from statistics to performances, will likely be very hard to surpass."

Under Klopp, Salah played 349 matches and scored 211 goals, contributing greatly to Liverpool winning major trophies, including the Premier League and UEFA Champions League. Joining the club from AS Roma in 2017 for £36.5 million, Salah quickly became a pillar on the right flank, combining with Sadio Mane to form a formidable attacking duo.

Klopp also revealed an interesting detail about Salah's early days at Anfield. When he first signed, the Egyptian forward was worried about his playing position: "He asked me where he would play. I said 'right wing'. He replied 'but Mane is playing there'. I answered 'he can move to the left wing'. At that time, Salah was genuinely concerned about whether he would get playing time."

From a player who faced difficulties at Chelsea, Salah rose strongly after his time at Fiorentina and Roma, before exploding at Liverpool and becoming one of the world's top stars.

Notably, Klopp also spoke out to refute rumors that he once prioritized signing Julian Brandt over Salah. "There are always stories like that. When looking for a winger, you have to talk to 7-8 people. We did discuss with Brandt, but also worked with Salah. And at that moment, we trusted him more than anyone – even more than he trusted himself," Klopp affirmed.

Concluding, the German tactician emphasized: "Salah was part of the world's best attacking trio for a long time."

Mohamed Salah's departure will certainly leave a significant void at Anfield, but his contributions will forever be an irreplaceable part of Liverpool's history.