Mohamed Salah: A National Icon in Egypt Amid Liverpool Controversy

In Cairo, the overwhelming hustle and bustle is matched only by the city's immense population.

With approximately 120 million residents in Egypt, the capital city alone houses 23 million people, a stark contrast to Liverpool's population of just under one million.

This context helps to illuminate the national outrage that erupted following Mohamed Salah's controversial interview on December 6, where he accused Liverpool of having "thrown him under the bus."

Diaa El-Sayed, former assistant coach of the Egyptian national team and a long-time acquaintance of Salah, remarked, "This interview was like a revolution in Egypt. Ninety-nine percent of the country supports Salah, and the reaction from Liverpool fans reflects that sentiment as well."

Despite Salah's immense popularity in Egypt, he faced significant criticism in the British media, with former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher labeling the interview a "disgrace" and accusing Salah of betraying the club. Others believed he was wrong to express his grievances publicly. However, in Cairo, the so-called 'Egyptian King' remains untouchable.

According to local resident Noura Essam, "Before Salah, there was no support for Liverpool here. We lacked a global figure, so our loyalty will always lie with him." During the 2018 presidential elections, more than a million Egyptians even crossed out the candidates' names and voted for Salah instead.

Salah has become an unofficial leader, affectionately referred to as the "Fourth Pyramid" in his home country. Around Ramses Square, a central transport hub in Cairo where Salah used to change buses during his lengthy commutes to training, locals expressed disbelief at his recent benching for three consecutive games by coach Arne Slot, and his exclusion from the squad for the Champions League match against Inter Milan.

Former Egyptian FA spokesman Osama Ismail noted, "When Liverpool played in Milan, all of Egypt supported Inter Milan." Ismail, who has worked with Salah, described him as "confident, not arrogant" and emphasized that the forward wishes to continue his tenure at Liverpool.

At the Cairo International Stadium, where Egypt recently triumphed over Nigeria in a friendly ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), the atmosphere is charged with support for Salah, as fans rally to uplift their "son" in his pursuit of winning Egypt's first title since 2010.

Journalist Ahmed Gamal Ali shared, "We consider him our son, so it was emotionally jarring to witness what felt like a humiliation for a family member. Seeing one of our own in pain was shocking, prompting a spontaneous national outcry. It would be unfair to judge whether he was right or wrong for the interview without experiencing his feelings ourselves, but this is typical of players like him and Cristiano Ronaldo."

At the Egypt team hotel, colleagues of Salah expressed no concern over their captain's actions, asserting that he is a consummate professional. One staff member said, "Working with Mo is the best part of my job," while another humorously noted that they all included him in their Fantasy Premier League teams. Many have taken to social media to show their support for Salah in recent days.

Egypt's head coach Hossam Hassan, the national team's all-time leading goalscorer, engaged in a lengthy conversation with Salah last week, believing that the team will need him at his best—regardless of his situation at Liverpool—to succeed in Morocco.

As for Salah's future at Liverpool, the atmosphere at Anfield last Saturday raised questions about whether he was bidding farewell or merely saying goodbye for now. El-Sayed insists, "Take it from me; it's just goodbye for now."

Before Salah departed for Afcon, Slot stated that there was "no issue to resolve" regarding Salah's selection, and his teammates expressed a desire for him to remain with the club. Salah still views himself as one of the first names on the Liverpool team sheet, and while he is away, his agent Ramy Abbas will engage in discussions with the club.

In recent years, Salah has typically secured his demands for both club and country. He celebrated a new contract at Anfield last April, despite previously hinting at a potential departure. In 2018, he successfully navigated a high-profile dispute with the Egyptian FA over image rights, leading to government intervention.

However, for the first time in a long while, it appears that the end of the love affair between Salah and Liverpool may be approaching. While neither party seems interested in severing ties in January, a move at the end of the season could be mutually beneficial.

Saudi Arabian clubs have expressed interest in signing Salah, whose current contract at Anfield, valued at £400,000 per week, runs until 2027. Even if he does leave, there is a belief that Salah may return to live in Liverpool with his wife and two daughters after retirement, as they cherish the British way of life.

As one travels from Cairo toward the airport, a route Salah has taken countless times, billboards featuring his image dominate the landscape. In Egypt, all roads lead to Salah.

A new television commercial features Salah being asked by his daughters why he continues to train despite having won everything with Liverpool. His response: "No, not yet, this is Egypt."

Salah's ambition to win with Egypt remains strong. Until April 2018, his social media handle was @MoSalah22, honoring his idol Mohamed Aboutrika, who wore the number 22 at Al-Ahly and won Afcon twice. Aboutrika, regarded as one of the greatest African and Arab players, was placed on Egypt's terror list in 2017 due to alleged ties with the banned Muslim Brotherhood, but was removed from the list in 2024.

Unlike Aboutrika, Salah has yet to win an Afcon title, having lost in the finals of 2017 and 2021. Achieving success in the tournament remains a significant goal for him, as he believes that competing in the Premier League enhances his chances of doing so.

Winning with the national team would hold great significance for Salah, who has only participated in one World Cup, in 2018, where he was not fully fit due to a shoulder injury sustained in that year's Champions League final. Egypt exited the tournament in the group stage after losing all three matches.

The upcoming World Cup next year, where Egypt has been drawn in a group with Belgium, Iran, and New Zealand, presents another opportunity on the grand stage. But for now, Salah's focus is on achieving success with the Pharaohs in Morocco. His agent, Abbas, will handle the situation at Liverpool, where it increasingly seems that Salah may no longer be the focal point.

Saturday's reception at Anfield, where Salah appeared as a first-half substitute in a 2-0 victory over Brighton, indicated that he will always be cherished in Liverpool. Judging by the atmosphere in Cairo, it is clear that he will always be celebrated back home.

Mohamed Salah: A National Icon in Egypt Amid Liverpool Controversy

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