Transfer Centre

Gary Neville: 'Mohamed Salah using Liverpool as stepping stone'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 25 February 2020

Neville: 'Salah using Liverpool as stepping stone'

Manchester United legend Gary Neville feels that Mohamed Salah is using Liverpool as a stepping stone ahead of a future move to Real Madrid or Barcelona.

Manchester United legend Gary Neville has predicted that Mohamed Salah will eventually leave Liverpool for either Real Madrid or Barcelona.

Since moving to Anfield in 2017, Salah has established himself as one of the top players in world football, scoring 90 goals from 140 appearances in all competitions.

However, despite having a contract until 2023, Neville feels that the Egypt international has his eyes set on a future transfer to the Bernabeu or Camp Nou.

Neville told Sky Sports: "I said 18 months ago I thought Mo Salah would leave Liverpool. I think it's a little bit more simple in the sense of why Liverpool fans maybe don't demonstrate that love for Salah, and it's affinity and loyalty. I think there's a feeling that he wants to go and play at Real Madrid, he'll go to Barcelona - he'll take the big move.

"That's not a criticism of Mo Salah. I played with David Beckham, I played with Ruud van Nistelrooy, I played with Cristiano Ronaldo - they wanted to aspire to win the Ballon d'Or, they wanted to be at Real Madrid, they wanted to be up in lights and play at the biggest clubs in the world.

"I think there's a feeling: affinity, loyalty, will he leave us? I think he could. I think he is ultimately using Liverpool potentially as a stepping stone for his career. He has aspirations. Let's be honest, Real Madrid and Barcelona for a lot of players are the pinnacle."

Liverpool will look to recoup well in excess of £100m if they allow Salah to move elsewhere over the next 18 months.