Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah said his contract demands are not “crazy” and that his future at Anfield is not in his hands as talks continue with the Egyptian international over a new deal.
The 29-year-old, the Premier League’s top scorer this season with 16 goals, has a contract with Liverpool until June 2023.
Salah maintained that he wants to stay at Liverpool but added he is yet to receive a suitable offer that reflects his contribution since joined them from AS Roma in 2017 and helped them win the Champions League and Premier League.
“I want to stay, but it’s not in my hands. It’s in their hands. They know what I want. I’m not asking for crazy stuff,” Salah told GQ Magazine in an interview published on Tuesday.
“The thing is when you ask for something and they show you they can give you something, (they should) because they appreciate what you did for the club.
“I’ve been here for almost five years now. I know the club very well. I love the fans. The fans love me. But with the administration, they have been told the situation. It’s in their hands.”
Salah is currently at the Africa Cup of Nation, while Liverpool host Arsenal in the League Cup semifinal on Thursday and Brentford in the Premier League on Sunday.
I’ve been here for almost five years now. I know the club very well. I love the fans. The fans love me. But with the administration, they have been told the situation. It’s in their hands.
— Mohamed Salah
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo missed Manchester United’s 1-0 FA Cup third round win over Aston Villa with muscular problems but manager Ralf Rangnick said it was nothing too serious.
Ronaldo, along with Jadon Sancho, Harry Maguire and Phil Jones, were all missing from the side that lost to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League last week.
Maguire and Jones were also injured but should be back for the league clash away to Villa on Saturday.
On Ronaldo’s absence, Rangnick said: “I spoke with Cristiano yesterday before training. He told me that he’s had some problems for the last couple of days.
“Minor problems, but in the end, we decided that it made more sense to not take any risks in a game that could easily last 120 minutes, so we decided to rest him.
“He had some problems with his hip, with his hip muscle. I don’t think it’s anything serious.”
Rangnick also confirmed striker Edinson Cavani is staying at the club until the end of the season.
Cavani’s contract expires at the end of June and the Uruguay international had been linked with Barcelona and Juventus, while some reports said the 34-year-old could return to South America during the January transfer window.
“Edi said that I can rely on him until the end of the season and that he will continue to give his best,” Rangnick told the United website.
“If he should play from the start he’s always happy to do so and to give his all but if even if he is not playing he will try to be the best possible role model for the other players.
“Edi is one of those players with a strong mentality. He has vast amounts of experience and a good work ethic that can also set a good example for the rest of the players.”
— Reuters
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.