Liverpool

Dietmar Hamann: 'I cannot see Mohamed Salah pining for Real Madrid, Barcelona move'

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 02 June 2018

Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes Mohamed Salah is unlikely to follow in the footsteps of Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho in pining for a move to Spain.

Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann has claimed that Mohamed Salah is unlikely to view Barcelona and Real Madrid as pinnacle clubs.

The Egypt international enjoyed a stellar debut season at Anfield, scoring 44 goals and registering 14 assists in just 53 appearances in all competitions.

As a result, Salah has been linked with Los Blancos, which has led to considerable anxiety from Reds fans, who lost previous talismans Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho to Real's bitter rivals Barcelona.

However, Hamann theorised that Suarez and Coutinho, being South Americans, would have viewed living in Spain as more akin to life back home and playing for the El Clasico teams as the ultimate privilege, which may not necessarily apply to Salah.

"I just don't see Salah following in the footsteps of Suarez and Coutinho," Hamann told The Mirror on Saturday.

"For South American players, signing for Barcelona or Real Madrid is a huge thing for them to do because of the links to their culture.

"I haven't met Salah, but from what people have told me about him he seems to be someone who loves being loved like he is by the Kop.

"I think that he has found a home, somewhere he is respected and appreciated, and he's also working with a manager who was brave enough to pay a lot of money for him when others looked at what had happened at Chelsea."

Salah is contracted to Liverpool until June 2022.