Rio Ferdinand, former Manchester United and England defender, launched an attack on fellow TV analysts, stating they are "in agreement" in their criticism of Egyptian star Mohamed Salah, the Liverpool player, and diminishing his respect. Salah has faced significant criticism from former Liverpool players like Danny Murphy, who believes his continuation with the club is no longer necessary, and Paul Ince, who stated that the Egyptian star does not qualify as one of the elite players globally. Graeme Souness described him as "the most selfish player I've ever seen."
Ferdinand, a six-time Premier League champion with Manchester United, said on the "Vibe with Five" show: "Mohamed Salah is being disrespected. I've been watching what many are saying, and it seems like they are hitting him with a stick." He continued, "Since when has there been doubt about Mohamed Salah's level? I believe he has been a world-class player for years. He may have declined a bit this season, but he is still amazing."
The England international, who has 81 caps, added: "Real Madrid won the Champions League in the 2017-2018 season because Salah left the pitch injured. If he had stayed on, the outcome would have been different. He is a world-class player, and his numbers are indisputable. Again, I say they do not respect him."
Rio concluded: "I watched Graeme Souness, Troy Deeney, and Simon Jordan talk about him, and I couldn't believe what I heard. It lacked respect, treating him as if he were just any other player." Salah recently shone in Liverpool's match against Tottenham, scoring one goal and assisting another, following a week of his famous altercation with his German coach Jürgen Klopp during the West Ham match.
