08 August 2023 , 11:58
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Steven Gerrard says he does not want to see Mohamed Salah in the Saudi Pro League anytime soon - after it emerged the Liverpool forward was the latest big-name star being targeted by mega-rich Saudi clubs.
Reports from Saudi Arabia claimed that Al Ittihad, who have already signed Fabinho from Liverpool this summer along with Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante, were ready to pounce. However, Salah's agent Ramy Abbas quickly denied the player had any interest in leaving Liverpool given he signed a new long-term contract extension just last year.
"If we considered leaving LFC this year, we wouldn’t have renewed the contract last summer," Abbas wrote on social media. "Mohamed remains committed to LFC."
And Liverpool legend Gerrard, who now manages Saudi club Al Ettifaq, wants Salah to remain at Anfield. In an interview with Sada Al Mala'eb, Gerrard was asked if he would like to see Salah swap Liverpool for Saudi Arabia.
Gerrard burst out laughing before replying: "No. The answer is no because Mohamed Salah is my favourite player, I love Liverpool Football Club, so Mohamed can stay where he is. When he wins more leagues and more Champions Leagues with Liverpool, we'll maybe consider it."
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Despite want Salah to stay at Liverpool, Al Ettifaq have signed Jordan Henderson from Liverpool this summer on a hugely lucrative contract. And Gerrard was also asked about the transfer, explaining why he wanted Henderson as his big marquee signing.
"I think it's a combination of things, of course, having a relationship with Jordan, I think there's a lot of trust and mutual respect both ways," he said. "I must say, everyone who’s involved with the board, obviously big respect to the minister, to the SPL for the support and help bringing Jordan Henderson here.
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"He's looking forward to the challenge, he's still got many good years in his legs. We were looking for someone who can be a coach on the football pitch, someone who can lead, someone with a voice, someone who creates real high-class elite standards.
"We want the young players to learn and grow off Jordan. Gerrard also responded to criticism aimed at him for taking a managerial job in Saudi Arabia, which has an appalling human rights record.
"Life always brings opinions, it always brings people who want to be negative," Gerrard said. "For me, I'm very positive about being in your country and I very much respect the opportunity that I've got."