Salah praises ‘great coach’ Zidane in hint at Spain move
Mohamed Salah has opened the door for a future move to La Liga in an interview in a Spanish newspaper a week before Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid.
The Liverpool striker has added to the sense he is courting the attention of La Liga clubs by again inviting speculation about his long-term plans, this time in Marca.
It is the second time this season Salah has spoken to one of the major Spanish football publications about the possibility of a transfer.
Asked if he was keen to play in Spain, Salah replied: “Why not? No one knows what’s going to happen in the future, so maybe one day, yes. It’s not up to me. We’ll see what happens but I prefer not to talk about that now.”
Salah also spoke of his good relationship with several Real players and admiration for manager Zinedine Zidane. “He’s a great coach. He’s won three Champions Leagues. He’s doing a very good job with the team. He was one of my idols when I was little. He’s doing great.”
On the qualities of Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, Salah’s comments were curiously less effusive. “It’s a normal relationship between two professionals. That’s how I’d describe it,” he said.
When Salah made similar remarks about the possibility of a La Liga move earlier this season, Klopp shrugged off theories the 28-yearold was paving the way for a summer exit. “I think the only reason to leave Liverpool at the moment is the weather,” said Klopp last December.
Liverpool have a similarly relaxed attitude to Salah’s latest remarks, especially as he is under contract until 2023.
Liverpool face Real next week, with Salah saying he has a “special motivation” to knock them out after the clubs’ last Champions League meeting in the 2018 final.
Salah left the pitch at Kiev’s Olympic Stadium in tears after a robust challenge by Sergio Ramos, before Real ran out 3-1 winners. He said: “Let’s just say that I have special motivation to win the tie and go through to the semi-finals. I’m thinking about the team.”