Mo Salah admits he was willing to leave Liverpool before signing new contract

The Egypt international was linked with a move away from Anfield for much of the season before finally putting pen to paper on a new deal last month

Mohamed Salah has candidly admitted that he WAS ready to leave Liverpool. Anfield’s Egyptian king signed a new two-year agreement last month to keep him on Merseyside until 2025, but had faced the very real prospect of leaving the club

Salah has had an outstanding season, notching 33 goals and dishing out 23 assists across 49 outings in all competitions, fuelling Liverpool’s charge towards their 20th top-flight title win, which they clinched comfortably with four games remaining.

That form has led to Salah being crowned FWA Footballer of the Year for the third time – tying the record – while Salah is on course to take home the Premier League Golden Boot. He is also a front-runner for the Ballon d’Or.

Now, at 32, the winger, who was still attracting amorous glances from the Saudi Pro League, has shed light on his mindset during the drawn-out negotiations – and whether he was willing to walk away from the Reds if a deal couldn’t be reached.

“It was a possibility, yes,” Salah shared. “It was actually a bit strange, we were really going strong this season, and there was this negotiation that wasn’t easy.

READ MORE: Mo Salah finally reveals all about ‘tense’ relationship with Liverpool team-mateREAD MORE: Arne Slot compares Conor Bradley to PSG star as Liverpool move on from Trent Alexander-Arnold

“In the end, all’s well that ends well: we’re champions and I’m staying for two more seasons.

“I guess it was ultimately a huge advantage because I had the best statistical season of my life. The possibility that it would be my last season here, perhaps, gave me the desire to make the most of it and give everything I had to win the title I had promised.

“I had this mindset: if the club doesn’t want to extend my contract, no worries, let’s finish as well as possible so I can leave with a bang.”

Liverpool are 15 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal with three games remaining, and welcome the Gunners to Anfield on Sunday afternoon. Salah had started the season by declaring the Premier League was his priority.

“I even said it was my main goal,” he said. “This is the first time in my career that I have placed the Championship above the Champions League.

“It was such a heartbreak not to be able to celebrate with our fans in 2020, due to the pandemic, that I absolutely wanted, along with the whole team, to offer this to our fans and the city. Nine months later, promise kept.”

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.