After more than eight years at Liverpool, Mohamed Salah remains one of the club’s greatest icons. But his recent claims of being scapegoated for the team’s poor run have sparked questions about his character. To understand the real Salah — beyond goals, glory and controversy — BBC Sport spoke to people who know him best.
“You Only Have Problems With Mo if He Isn’t Playing”
Jurgen Klopp describes Salah as relentless, intense and unyielding in his pursuit of improvement.
The former Liverpool manager recalls how Salah returned each summer with a new skill sharpened to perfection.
“He never stops,” Klopp says. “After every break he had a new pass or move. That’s his mindset. He will be remembered as one of the greatest ever. You only have problems with Mo if he is not playing or you take him off.”
Adam Lallana says Salah’s calmness and discipline inspired the dressing room.
“He never gets too high or too low. He stays focused. Knowing Mo made me calm — he was always in control.”
A Competitor Obsessed With Being the Best
Salah’s desire to excel fuels everything — even off the pitch.
James Milner remembers being stunned when Salah hired a chess teacher and then beat him repeatedly.
“He plays like he has a chip on his shoulder,” Milner says. “He wants to be the best at everything.”
His competitiveness extended to his dynamic — sometimes tense — partnership with Sadio Mane. Klopp admits they weren’t best friends, but they pushed each other to elite levels: “On the pitch, they fought for each other.”
A Global Icon Rooted Deep in His Village
Salah’s impact reaches far beyond football.
From Nagrig, his rural Egyptian hometown of 15,000 people, he has become a global cultural figure and humanitarian.
“What set him apart as a kid was discipline,” says Nagrig’s mayor Maher Shtiyeh. “He has lifted the heads of all of us.”
Salah has funded an ambulance station, charitable foundation and religious institute in his hometown.
His faith remains central — visible in his goal celebrations and quiet visits to Liverpool Mosque, where Imam Shafique Rahman recalls him standing shoulder-to-shoulder with worshippers without fanfare.
From Self-Doubt to World Superstar
At Chelsea, a young Salah struggled with confidence. Former team-mate Mark Schwarzer recalls José Mourinho’s frustration boiling over in the dressing room.
“Mo was timid,” Schwarzer says. “The more he didn’t score, the more frustrated he became.”
But Salah rebuilt himself in Italy.
Micah Richards, who played with him at Fiorentina, remembers a player of unstoppable determination: “He did everything by the book — sleep, diet, training. He wanted to show everyone who doubted him.”
Former Egypt striker Mido says Salah’s journey has changed African football dreams:
“He succeeded in Europe without losing his principles. He made young boys believe they could do the same.”
A Legacy That Will Outlast Headlines
Even before his recent comments, questions had emerged about Salah’s future. Liverpool are reportedly open to a sale, and his relationship with the fanbase appears strained.
But for those who shared the pitch with him, his influence remains profound.
Luis Díaz remembers Salah as one of the first to welcome him:
“He told me, ‘If you need help, I’m here.’ On the pitch he would guide me — ‘Let’s try this move…’ and it worked.”
“To lift the Premier League trophy with him, to see how much it meant — unforgettable. He always wanted to be better, and he left a deep mark on me.”
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