Egyptian star Mohamed Salah has stirred controversy about his future with Liverpool FC after a leaked image during a conversation with his Croatian friend Dejan Lovren, a defender for Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg. Salah's contract with Liverpool expires in the summer of 2023, and Liverpool is trying to reach a solution that guarantees Salah's stay while making him the highest-paid player.
British newspaper "Mirror" previously reported that Salah requested £500,000 per week in exchange for agreeing to a renewal, a claim that was denied by "Liverpool Echo." Dejan Lovren revealed the contents of a conversation he had with his former Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah via WhatsApp, in which the "Pharaoh" congratulated him on reaching his 100th goal with the "Reds" in the English Premier League.
Salah posted an image as part of the congratulations showing him taking off Liverpool's jersey, captioning it, "Sorry, I sent this by mistake," to which the Croatian responded, "Yes, of course." The release of the conversation by Lovren and Salah's controversial image has upset Liverpool fans, with some interpreting it as an indication that the Egyptian intended to send a message to the English team reminding them of his intention to leave if his demands were not met.
Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino interpreted this act, suggesting that Salah may have intended to send a message by removing his jersey, saying: "Some players, when they take off their shirts, do it to send a message," as reported by "Russia Today." Notably, Dejan Lovren (32) played alongside Salah at Liverpool from 2017 to 2020, and they have maintained a strong friendship since then.
