With 28 goals in 30 Premier League games for the Reds, life at Anfield for Mohamed Salah couldn’t have got off to a better start.
The 25-year-old Egyptian has created mass hysteria on Merseyside since his £36.9 million move from Roma, with his trademark speed and silky finishing, and has already racked up a whole host of impressive personal milestones since signing in June, including two Premier League player of the month awards, in November 2017 and February 2018 respectively.
With 28 goals in the premier league ALREADY, with seven games left to play and with Salah's only real threat to the accolade, Tottenham’s talisman Kane injured likely until the end of April, you’d safely put your money on Salah to scoop the award.
Footballing life wasn’t always a breeze for Salah, who grew up in the Gharbia region of Egypt. He struggled academically in school and his parents worried. Salah orginally played football for fun, and after getting an opportunity to sign for local club El - Mokawloon, he took it more seriously, against the wishes of his parents who wanted him to have a career. With El Mokawoon based in Cairo, Salah's journey to training usually involved taking five busses, which further affected his schoolwork.
In May 2010, at the age of 18, he was finally accepted into the senior team of the club. At first, Salah mostly played as a substitute but eventually, as his game improved, he became a regular forward in the team. Around 2012, the ‘Egyptian Premier League’ faced being shut down and so the fate of many of its players became uncertain.
Basel offered him a contract and in April 2012, Salah signed a four-year contract with the Swiss club. He made his UEFA Champions League and Europa League debuts the same year and scored crucial goals to help his team reach the semi-finals of the latter competition, where they eventually lost on aggregate to Chelsea, the eventual winners of the competition. Despite the disappointment of elimination from Europe, Basel and Salah went on to win the Swiss league as well as finish runner up in the Swiss Cup.
Salah continued his fine form into the 2014 season, impressing a whole host of bigger clubs, including Chelsea, who he had previously scored against in the group stage of the Champions League.
On January 23rd, 2014, Chelsea announced that a deal had been agreed with Basel for a fee around £11 million. On the 26th, Chelsea announced they had completed the signing of Salah, which made him the first Egyptian to grace Chelsea’s squad. On February 8th, 2014, Salah made his Chelsea debut in the 3–0 win over Newcastle, as a substitute. On March 22nd, 2014, Salah scored his first goal for Chelsea against Arsenal (of all clubs!) in a game that ended in Chelsea winning 6-0. On April 5th, 2014, Salah scored and made an assist in a 3-0 win against Stoke City... so I guess at least someone can do it on a cold, wet night in Stoke!
Before the 2014 season, his future in London was hanging in the balance after reports suggested he could be forced to return to his homeland in order to carry out mandatory military service. Salah was spared military service after meeting with the then Egyptian Prime Minister. Salah changed to squad number 17 for the new season, as Eden Hazard had changed to number ten, allowing Salah to take number 17.
Salah's star for the season came against Swansea in September, playing the last eight minutes of a 4-2 Chelsea victory. He made his first start of the season at home to Bolton in a Cup victory.
Salah struggled for game time before his loan move to Fiorentina, but José Mourinho insisted that Salah would receive a winner's medal when Chelsea eventually went on to win the title.
On transfer deadline day in 2015, Chelsea confirmed that Salah had completed a loan move to Fiorentina until the end of the 2015–16 season, Salah chose the number 74 shirt in honor of the victims of the Port Said Stadium riots back in his homeland. Salah managed to impress during his loan spell in Italy, so much that giants AS Roma made their move, after Salah apparently refused to sign for Fiorentina permanently.
On August 6, Salah joined Roma on a season-long loan that carried a €5 million loan fee, with the option to make the deal permanent for an extra €15 million reported fee. Salah was named Player of the Season, finishing as the club's top goalscorer with 15 goals in all competitions, 14 in the league alone(!), and six assists. On August 3rd, 2016, Roma (obviously) made the deal permanent. He scored a hat-trick at the Stadio Olimpico as Roma won 3–0 against Bologna.
In June 2017, Salah agreed a transfer to Liverpool. He signed a long-term contract with the Reds for an initial £36m fee that could potentially rise to up to £45m based on performance related clauses.
Salah scored on his competitive debut for Liverpool against Watford, and the rest as they say, is history...
JI
About the Creator
Jordan isaac
Avid lover of beers, Liverpool F.C, dogs and anything Wales.
Free Palestine. 🇵🇸
Keep reading
More stories from Jordan isaac and writers in Cleats and other communities.
Why Wrexham, America?
There’s no denying it. Americans - and people across the world - have fallen in love with this (at the time) non-league club nestled in the North-Eastern part of little ol’ Wales. And the story begins after th purchase of Wrexham AFC by Hollywood superstar Ryan Reynolds and that other guy from ‘It’s Always Sunny’. Following the release of an FX docuseries, the exploits of Welsh non-league side Wrexham AFC debuted in late summer 2022 to rave reviews, And it has churned up an American fanbase for a down-on-its-luck club battling in the fifth tier of the English footballing machine.
By Jordan isaac5 months ago in Cleats
Mastering the mind games of Mourinho..
In the bustling streets of London, amidst the roar of fans and the clash of football boots, there existed a man whose tactics transcended the pitch. José Mourinho, the mastermind behind many a football triumph, possessed a unique ability to wield not just the tactics board but also the minds of his players.Cesc Fàbregas, a gifted midfielder, found himself under Mourinho's spell during their time together at Chelsea. As he reflected on those days, he revealed the intricate web of influence Mourinho spun around him."I think with Mourinho, he played with my mind in a different way that nobody else played before," Fàbregas recounted, his voice tinged with both admiration and a hint of bewilderment.Their relationship was not merely coach and player; it was a complex dance of manipulation and inspiration. Mourinho, with his charismatic persona and keen understanding of psychology, knew exactly how to push Fàbregas to new heights."He would send me messages, he would speak to me nearly every day," Fàbregas recalled, painting a picture of relentless communication that kept him perpetually engaged, perpetually focused.Mourinho's words were not just casual chatter; they were strategic maneuvers designed to shape Fàbregas's perception of himself and his role within the team. Each conversation, each message, carried with it the weight of affirmation and importance."He would speak to me in a manner where he makes me see that I'm one of the most important players in the squad," Fàbregas revealed, the memory still vivid in his mind. Mourinho's words weren't empty praise; they were calculated strokes that bolstered Faàbregas's confidence and sense of belonging.And it worked. Under Mourinho's guidance, Fàbregas flourished, his performances on the pitch reflecting the belief instilled in him by his coach. He became a linchpin in the team, a maestro orchestrating plays with precision and finesse."That always had a really powerful message in my brain," Fàbregas admitted, acknowledging the lasting impact of Mourinho's manipulation. The coach's words weren't just fleeting encouragements; they were seeds planted in Fàbregas's mind, blossoming into a steadfast belief in his own abilities.As Fàbregas reminisced about those days, it became clear that Mourinho's influence extended far beyond the tactical realm. He wasn't just a coach; he was a mentor, a confidant, a master of the psychological game.Their time together at Chelsea may have come to an end, but the imprint Mourinho left on Fàbregas's psyche remained indelible. Even now, years later, Fàbregas found himself reflecting on those conversations, those messages, and the profound impact they had on his career.In the world of football, where physical prowess and tactical acumen reign supreme, Mourinho stood out as a master manipulator of the mind. His ability to understand his players on a deeper level, to tap into their emotions and motivations, set him apart as a coach of unparalleled skill.For Fàbregas, Mourinho's influence was a double-edged sword, simultaneously empowering and enigmatic. He had been both puppet and prodigy, a willing participant in Mourinho's intricate game of psychological chess.And yet, despite the complexities of their relationship, Fàbregas couldn't deny the role Mourinho played in shaping him as a player and as a person. The lessons learned, the confidence gained, were invaluable gifts that would stay with him long after the final whistle had blown.As Fàbregas gazed out onto the pitch, the memories of his time under Mourinho flooded back, a testament to the enduring power of the coach's voice. In the world of football, where triumph and defeat hung in the balance, Mourinho's words had been a constant, guiding Fàbregas through the highs and lows of the beautiful game.
By Eric anexis 7 days ago in Cleats
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.