The seemingly unending summer transfer saga involving Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, and Al Ittihad, which had no definitive end in sight, has continued to generate different opinions.
The latest of those opinions is from Michail Antonio, who has claimed that Mohamed Salah was eager to leave Liverpool this summer.
There were reported offers from Saudi Arabia, which were rejected by Liverpool, possibly due to the timeframe of the bid.
Al Ittihad tabled a mouth-watering bid of £150 million for Salah, but they still couldn’t acquire the signature of the Egyptian.
Liverpool were keen on keeping the Egypt international at least until January 2024, despite the Saudi Arabian club reportedly offering to increase the bid to £200 million.
Reds manager Jurgen Klopp opted to brush aside questions regarding the future of Mohamed Salah, while the attacker also made no statement concerning his future.
Mohamed Salah transfer to Al Ittihad?
However, Michail Antonio maintains that the ex-Roma winger was determined for a move away from Anfield.
The 31-year-old would have reportedly earned a salary of £100 million yearly after tax if he had joined Al Ittihad in the 2023 summer transfer window.
Speaking with Footballer’s Football Podcast, Antonio said: “He didn’t turn that down, no way.”
The Jamaican also said that Liverpool blocked the move from happening, as the player “was ready to go.”
The West Ham forward said: “He was locked up and the Reds had put that red arrow across: “You are not going anywhere”.
“He did not stop that at all. To be fair to him, he didn’t kick up a fuss and let them do what they were doing. But I know for a fact that he was ready to go.”
Antonio claims Mohamed Salah has done it all at Anfield
Michail Antonio further added that there isn’t any motivation for Salah to remain at Liverpool, as he has achieved everything that can be achieved at the club.
He said: “What else can he do at Liverpool? He’s done it. It’s (Saudi) a great opportunity for him, he is a Muslim man and it had everything screaming out for him.
“There was no actual negative for the man to not go. I understand he has a contract, which he has fulfilled.”
Mohammed Salah joined Liverpool from AS Roma on July 1, 2017, for a fee of €42 million.
He has scored 188 goals and provided 83 assists in 310 appearances for the Reds, since his arrival.
Salah has won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, and Club World Cup with the Merseyside-based club.
The former Basel man has started the 2023/24 season on an impressive note, scoring 2 goals and providing 4 assists in 5 appearances for Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp’s side remain unbeaten after five Premier League matches, and they return to continental action on Thursday, September 21, 2023, in a Europa League match against Austrian side LASK.
The possibility of Salah exiting Liverpool remains rife, as Al Ittihad are determined to send in other bids in subsequent transfer windows.
