Liverpool fans have reacted to the latest bit of Mohamed Salah news to come out as Riyad Mahrez admitted something.
Phrases like ‘swapping a Ferrari for a VW’ were lashed about on social media as Liverpool fans reacted to the story.
We’re talking about what Manchester City attacker Riyad Mahrez revealed during his Instagram live Q+A, which Goal reported on.
The Algerian moved for £61 million, but said it could have been different if it wasn’t for Mohamed Salah. With seven goals and 10 assists in 23 Premier League appearances this season, the former Leicester City star has been in good form.
He’s played 81 times since making the move to join Pep Guardiola in Manchester but hasn’t always been the top dog. How things could’ve been different had Mahrez been signed by Liverpool instead.
According to the player, that nearly happened.
Back when Jurgen Klopp was thinking about who to sign to give his attack the edge it needed to compete for the title, Mahrez was one of the league’s hottest properties. He’d been instrumental in driving Leicester to the Premier League title and was wanted by a number of big clubs.
But it seems like the Algerian was never the club’s top target as they managed to bring in Salah before negotiations really got started with and that was that.
"He explained: “Before signing for Manchester City, there was interest from Liverpool in me, but as soon as they took Mohamed Salah, it was finished.”"
Mahrez finally joined City in 2018, a year later than Salah moved to Liverpool from AS Roma. It’s interesting to think how things might have been different had Klopp made a move for the Foxes hottest property.
He’s a different type of player – not as quick, less of an eye for goal – but who knows what Klopp could have made of the forward.
Nobody expected Salah to do the things that he’s done for the Reds, maybe Mahrez would have done the same. But I’m glad he never got the chance.