It was announced yesterday that Salah will leave Liverpool at the end of the current season and yes, we can and should talk about the beautiful history he had at the club, but I’ll leave that to others. I’d rather understand what comes next, what Salah’s next club will be.
This current season showed a drop in technical level that came faster than expected. Last season, Salah lived through a statistical peak and it was normal to expect his level to drop, but no one thought it would be this much. You have to respect the great player he was, he gets into Liverpool’s all-time best XI, but in football there isn’t much time for gratitude if the present isn’t good, and that is the case with Salah.
That being said, the possibilities, in my opinion, are outside Europe, because I don’t see European clubs with both the money and real interest to sign Salah considering what he showed this season. That leaves the Saudi Pro League, MLS and some club in Egypt, which I’d say is basically Al Ahly, since they have dominated the country and the African continent for many years.
As for the Saudi Pro League, we have to look at the salary Salah is going to ask for, and it won’t be low. That limits the conversation to four teams: Al Nassr, Al Hilal, Al Ahli and Al Ittihad.
I don’t think Salah will go to Al Nassr, because Coman plays on the right wing and, for Salah to come in, you would have to change too much in the team. Probably sell Mané, move Coman to the left and then bring in Salah. But is that worth all the effort? I don’t think Al Nassr would be much better with that switch.
At Al Hilal there is space, because you have Malcom, who is more mobile and can play in another position. You could sell Darwin Núñez, who has already shown a desire to leave, and open space for Salah.
Al Ahli is also a good option. You have Mahrez, who still delivers, but it’s nothing extraordinary for a team that always wants to fight for the title. A direct swap, sell Mahrez and bring in Salah, makes sense.
Al Ittihad have completely lost themselves and will need to invest heavily. Bringing in a name like Salah makes sense in that context, but if he still values competition and level, and not just money, it doesn’t seem like the best choice.
As for MLS, there are teams with the capacity, but it’s not really worth going too deep into it because the level is more balanced and, with the salary cap, it could end up being almost any team.
The last possibility is Al Ahly, in Egypt. They dominate the league, won 8 of the last 10 and also dominate the African Champions League. It would be a more emotional and legacy-driven choice.
Conclusion
If I had to predict, with no sources, just based on my reading, I’d say Salah will play next season at Al Ahli, Al Hilal or Al Ahly in Egypt. He had an absurd story in European football, but nowadays I don’t see European clubs with either the desire or the financial ability to give him what he earns or what he will ask for, and that definitely won’t be little.