Arne Slot denies role in Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool exit

Arne Slot has rejected suggestions that he played a role in Mohamed Salah’s decision to leave Liverpool, insisting the Egyptian forward made the choice independently.

Speaking publicly for the first time since Salah announced he would depart at the end of the season, the Liverpool manager declined to disclose specific details surrounding the timing or reasons behind the decision.

Slot maintained that any explanation should come from the player himself, with Salah still having twelve months remaining on his contract.

“Yes [he is satisfied with how he handled the situation]. Looking back, I think I could have made better decisions this season, but I’m not talking about what happened with Mo in particular. I don’t regret much of what I did during our year and a half together, or even longer,” Slot said.

He also dismissed claims linking Salah’s reduced playing time to his decision to leave. “The assumption that if he’s not playing, it means he wants to leave, is wrong. In that case, he would have left a year and a half ago.

I remember the away game at West Ham when he wasn’t playing (under Jürgen Klopp in April 2024). I wasn’t there at the time.

He didn’t decide to leave. This assumption, that a player who doesn’t play in certain games suddenly wants to leave, is speculation, maybe true, maybe not, but history has shown that he never did it before and that he went on to have an excellent season afterward.”

Salah had been left on the bench for three matches in six days in December, a period during which he criticised the club and suggested his relationship with Slot was strained.

However, the manager does not believe that episode directly influenced the 33-year-old’s decision to end his time at Anfield.

Slot added: “The only one who can speak to this is Mo himself. You’re assuming he wants to leave because he’s been gone for six days.

I’m not sure what you’re saying is true. I’d be surprised if Mo didn’t one day share his thoughts on the reasons for his decision.

It’s not up to me to decide, it’s up to him. And I won’t speculate. You have to be wary of assumptions.”

The Liverpool manager also rejected suggestions that the club had been willing to allow Salah to leave without resistance.

“Those are your own words,” Slot said. “I think Mo has fully earned the right to decide when he wants to leave.

He’s done so much for this club. He has to make his own decision, and that’s what he’s done.”