Timing of Salah's 'immensely tough' decision interesting
[Getty Images] The news of Mohamed Salah's Liverpool departure comes as no surprise, given the way events have unfolded this season, but the timing is interesting - with the Egyptian saying on his social channels that this is the "first part of my farewell". He asked the club to make the announcement as early as possible, out of respect for the supporters and the fact he gets to go on his own terms is the least Salah deserves. His agent, Ramy Abbas, said: "We do not know where Mohamed will play next season.
This also means that no-one else knows. " At the very least, Salah will want to leave on a memorable note and the decision to part ways will have been immensely tough - even if it was somewhat inevitable -given he and his family, including his wife and two daughters, are settled in the north west of England and admire the British way of life. "I never imagined how deeply this club, this city, these people would become part of my life," Salah said on Tuesday.
But there is little doubt he will get the fondest of farewells despite the circumstances of his exit - with the Anfield faithful getting to serenade their main man on at least a few more occasions. A scroll through the comments on his social media post confirming his exit is enough to highlight how highly he is rated and respected, among his peers and his supporters. Between now and his departure, more tributes will certainly follow.
He will go down categorically as one of the finest footballers to wear the Liverpool shirt. Go back to June 2017 and Salah's first interview with the club as a 25-year-old. "I will give 100% and give everything for the club.
I am happy to be here and I really want to win something for this club," he said. Salah has done that and so much more. Read more analysis from Patel on Salah's exit