The director of the Saudi Pro League has admitted a move for Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah will only be possible if the Egyptian decides he is ready to leave Anfield.
Saudi officials chased Salah’s signature last summer and even indicated a willingness to bid £150m, only for Liverpool and the winger himself to stand firm and reject the chance to do business.
Now, with Salah approaching the final six months of his contract, Saudi interest has renewed, but league director Michael Emenalo stressed everything rests on Salah’s decision.
“It depends on Mo,” he told The Obi One Podcast. “The stories that one of our teams went after him are true. There was an interest, but just like the whole Victor Osimhen thing, it also hinges around… It’s okay for me to have an interest in signing Mo, but his club also have to have an interest in letting him go. If those two things don’t align, you don’t have a deal.”
Asked whether it was Liverpool’s stance that saw a move for Salah collapse in 2023, Emenalo continued: “Fundamentally, it was that Liverpool didn’t want to sell, and at what price were we willing to buy? We don’t want to buy at a ridiculous amount.
“Also, the third party, which is the most important party – is the player ready to come? I didn’t feel the player was ready to come. I feel like he had unfinished business.
“You have to leave the club in the right way. When you are at that level and you’ve done some things, it’s important to leave the club in the right way. Being one of my boys, I was never going to put any pressure on him. I never even spoke to him at that period, it was not necessary.”
Emenalo went on to stress that he will have no say in whether Saudi clubs revisit moves for Salah in 2025.
“I don’t manage the clubs,” he vowed. “If any of the clubs decide that they are interested… He’s a top player. It’s the same thing with Kevin De Bruyne.”
Emenalo concluded: “Only Liverpool know [if they regret not selling]. They may also look at it as his presence got them into the Champions League, attracted some new players that they signed… But don’t forget, Mo Salah is the decision-maker.
“The player ultimately decides if he is ready to go or not ready to go. I think he finds himself in the situation where he’s never going to push to leave his contract so he can go play somewhere else. “
