Chelsea prevented Mohamed Salah from joining Liverpool earlier in his career after winning the battle for his signature in 2014. The Reds targeted the then-Basel winger in the January transfer window but ultimately lost out to Jose Mourinho’s side.
Salah, who is set to leave Liverpool in the summer, struggled to establish himself during his first spell in English football. He made 19 appearances for the west London club before being loaned out to Fiorentina a year later and subsequently joining Roma.
His performances in Italy convinced Liverpool to revive their interest, completing a £34.3million deal in 2017. Given the success Salah has enjoyed across nine years at Anfield, Mourinho has since been criticised for allowing him to leave Stamford Bridge, but the former Chelsea boss had a different view of the situation.
"When people say, ‘You let Salah go’, I say exactly the opposite," Mourinho told The Obi One podcast in 2023. "I bought Salah. I was the one that said, ‘Buy that guy’.
“He was going from Basel to Liverpool, and I made a fight. I made a war to make him come to Chelsea. Then comes the part to be a Chelsea player, you need to perform or have to wait. He didn’t want to wait and wanted to go on loan and then Chelsea at a certain point decided to sell. That was not me."
While Mourinho denies his role in Salah leaving Chelsea, Liverpool reaped the rewards of the Egypt international wanting to prove his doubters wrong in the Premier League. The 33-year-old has won two league titles and earned four Golden Boots, helping fire the Reds to glory.
"I think when I was at Chelsea I came here and Liverpool were fighting for the title and the atmosphere was unbelievable,” Salah said to Sky Sports in 2021. “And I said, 'Wow, I want to play here one day.'
"That's why when I was in Rome and there was talk between the clubs, I said I would love to play there, the atmosphere is unbelievable and I wanted to come back to England to prove people wrong, I didn't have my chance there with Chelsea, and I wanted to come back.”
It was announced earlier this week that Salah has agreed to leave Liverpool at the end of this season, bringing an end to his legendary spell at the club. He has won several major honours, including the Premier League and Champions League, during his time with the Reds, scoring 255 goals in 435 games to date.
In a video shared on social media on Tuesday, Salah said: "Hello everyone. Unfortunately the day has come. This is the first part of my farewell. I will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.
"I wanted to start by saying that I never imagined how deeply this club, this city, these people, would become part of my life. Liverpool is not just a football club, it's a passion, it's a history, it's a spirit. I can't explain in words to anyone not part of this club."
He added: "Leaving is never easy. You gave me the best time of my life. I will be always one of you. This club will always be my home to me and my family. Thank you for everything. Because of all of you, I will never walk alone."
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