Mohammed Kudus names Man United star as his toughest opponent – and tells players copying his celebration that they will have to start paying taxes on it!

Mohammed Kudus does not mind players copying his iconic celebration, but warns they will have to start paying taxes if it continues.

The West Ham forward celebrated his strike against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup last November by sitting on an advertising board, facing the pitch and with his back to the crowd.

Now the ‘Kudus celebration’ is a phenomenon.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah copied it and the entire West Ham Under-21 team reproduced it.

And it was considered iconic when Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Hojlund did it together after Garnacho scored for Manchester United against West Ham at Old Trafford last month.

Forward first produced his memorable celebration against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup

Rasmus Hojlund (left), Alejandro Garnacho (centre) and Kobbie Mainoo (right) copy the ‘Kudus celebration’

Kudus told The Times: ‘I wanted to do something out of the box because most celebrations are pretty normal, sliding and stuff. I wanted to add more meaning to me scoring. It’s all about sitting down, resting after scoring a goal, but literally there’s no deeper meaning than that.’

‘Even when I [first] did it there were talks that people were doing it before, though I didn’t see anybody doing it that way. But, yeah, [other players] are allowed to do it — but soon they will have to start paying taxes!

‘I just see it as something to make people happy and worth the ticket they bought. Football is about the three points and the emotions at stake but also football is an entertainment and there’s more stuff to it. Yeah. I’m still just having fun in the playground.’

Kudus named Man United defender Luke Shaw as his toughest opponent so far, but he says that none have been easy and ‘the intensity’ is what marks out the Premier League. 

He added: ‘You can’t underrate any team. Every game is difficult. When I was at Ajax, if you went in 60 per cent, 70 per cent you were still going to win. But here even the small teams can surprise. Every game is work time and you can’t switch off. I love it, you know.’ 

West Ham return to action on Saturday when they face Newcastle at St James’ Park.

They also still remain in the hunt for silverware after making it through to the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

Looking to build on their Conference League triumph from last season, David Moyes’ side will face Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen in the last eight next month.