Liverpool head coach Arne Slot delivers a mic drop joke to counter the incessant questions about the future of Mohamed Salah. Slot has constantly avoided talking about the contract situations of the three key players that still remain in uncertainty.
Salah has voiced his contract situation publicly numerous times, inviting scrutiny from former Liverpool players-turned-pundits like Sky Sports’s Jamie Carragher. Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are the two other key players who are playing in their contracts last season.
The unsettling situation has received criticism from the majority of Liverpool fans as they want these key players’ futures secured. However, Salah’s comments have inevitably brought the media’s question in front of Slot numerous times in recent weeks.
After Liverpool beat Manchester City 2-0 in the Premier League clash, Salah once again dropped a hint about his uncertain future situation. He said to Sky Sports (via ESPN):
“Honestly it’s in my head. Until now this is the last City game, I will play for Liverpool so I was just going to enjoy it. The atmosphere was incredible so I will enjoy every second here. Hopefully, we just win the league and will see what will happen.”
During the pre-match press conference (via ESPN) for the Newcastle United game, a reporter asked Slot about those comments from Salah. Liverpool boss Slot responded immediately with a joke about Man City’s 115 charges instead of talking about the comments from Salah, showing his quick wit and defusing the situation. He said:
“Maybe Mo knows more about the 115 acquisitions [charges] so expects them not to be there in the Premier League next season. The boring answer is always the same. This is not the place for me to talk about Mo’s contract. It was a joke, I repeat it was a joke.”
Liverpool fans along with other Premier League audience are eagerly awaiting the judgement for those 115 charges against Man City. At the same time, changing the conversation with quick humour displays Slot’s natural ability to handle the media.
Arne Slot on Mo Salah saying that Sunday could have been his last Anfield game vs Man City.
“Maybe Mo knows more about the 115 charges, so expects them not to be there next season… it was a joke!”.
“I repeat, a joke”.
@BeanymanSportspic.twitter.com/KHv8tujZwb
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 3, 2024
Liverpool have compartmentalised the decision-making power since the departure of legendary manager Jurgen Klopp. While Slot’s advice is valued immensely, the final decisions of player contracts lie on Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards.
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Salah is earning £350,000 gross per week with his current contract that finishes at the end of this season. While fans desperately want the beloved Egyptian legend to stay, there’s more to the situation than meets the eye. The best course of action is to remain patient just like we are patient about City’s corruption charges.
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