Liverpool has reportedly barred Mo Salah from potentially joining Egypt’s Olympic squad this summer, according to the country’s Football Association president, Ahmed Megahed. According to the president, the forward has indicated that he will speak with the Reds’ technical team to reconsider their decision. It’s possible that this is due purely to Liverpool’s approaching busy schedule. And they perhaps don’t wish to lose Salah during the commencement of that.
According to the Daily Mirror, Egypt’s president believes Salah has already verbally accepted to join the Olympic team when speaking to Egyptian network ONTimeSport.
Megahed said, “I do not want to say that it is impossible for Salah to participate in the Olympics, but it is difficult. Salah agreed to lead the Olympic team during the last camp of the Egyptian team. We contacted Liverpool to allow Salah to join the Olympic team, and they said they were waiting for the approval of the technical staff. In the end, Liverpool refused the request because they do not want to lose the player at the beginning of the season, as well as next January with the Africa Cup of Nations.”
He added, saying, “we spoke with Salah again, and he told us that he will make a new attempt with the technical staff of his team, to resolve the matter, and within the next two days he will find a way.”
The Egyptian FA has a history of being tough to work with, but it’s impossible to blame them for wanting their best player to compete in the Olympic Games this summer.
Salah will miss the start of the Premier League season if he goes to Japan, and Liverpool pays his weekly salaries. This does make Liverpool’s side of the case justifiable. They would want one of their most crucial players to be in the best physical condition for the start of the season.
