Totti credits Roma for Mohamed Salah’s breakthrough

Former Roma captain Francesco Totti has credited the Italian club for playing a key role in Mohamed Salah’s development, describing the Egyptian forward as a player who was always willing to help his teammates.

Salah joined Roma on loan from Chelsea in 2015 before completing a permanent move to the Serie A side in 2016.

The 34-year-old quickly established himself as an important member of the team, scoring 34 goals and providing 21 assists in 83 appearances across all competitions.

His impressive performances in Italy attracted interest from Liverpool, who secured his signature in the summer of 2017 in a deal worth an initial €42 million, with a further €8 million in add-ons.

Speaking to Sport Screen, Totti reflected on Salah’s time in the Italian capital and the impact he made at the club.

“Salah’s breakthrough was with Roma. People loved him at the club because he was always ready to help,” Totti said.

“I saw a different player in Mohamed Salah, and he had other goals by changing the team’s colours.”

Salah went on to establish himself as one of the leading forwards in European football during his time at Liverpool.

He made 442 appearances for the Premier League side, scoring 257 goals and providing 123 assists, according to Transfermarkt.

His achievements at Anfield included two Premier League titles, a UEFA Champions League trophy and the FIFA Club World Cup.

On the individual front, Salah won the African Player of the Year award twice and claimed the Premier League Golden Boot on four occasions.

After leaving Liverpool last summer, Salah joined Turkish side Trabzonspor on a free transfer, bringing an end to his successful spell on Merseyside.

He has made 16 appearances for his new club, scoring 11 goals, including nine in the league and two in the UEFA Conference League, while also registering five assists.

Totti’s comments underline the importance of Salah’s spell at Roma, where his performances helped pave the way for his move to Liverpool and subsequent rise to global prominence.