The forward is keeping in regular contact with his national team as they work to try and make sure he travels with the rest of the squad to Tokyo
Egypt Football Association president Ahmed Megahed has insisted that Mohamed Salah wants to play at the Olympics and will try to convince Liverpool to let him go within the next 48 hours.
Salah was one of the two overage players included in the Egypt U23 provisional squad for the summer Games, with Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny also making the final cut, but Liverpool have not yet given their consent for the forward to link up with his country.
Megahed has been working to try and ensure Salah’s participation for many months, and claims that the 29-year-old is determined to reach an agreement with Anfield officials before the end of the week.
Editors’ Picks
- No goals, no assists: Benzema’s France return for Euro 2020 is no fairy tale
- Kane struggling alongside Sterling and Foden for England – so would £100m move to Man City be a success?
- ‘Grealish & Saka have brought England to life!’ – Pair lauded as Three Lions defeat Czechs at Euro 2020
- Neymar will soon surpass Pele’s Brazil goalscoring record – so why is his legacy still in doubt?
What’s been said?
The Egypt FA chief told ONTime Sport: “I do not want to say that it is impossible for Salah to participate in the Olympics, but it is difficult. Salah agreed to lead the Olympic team during the last camp of the Egyptian team.
“We contacted Liverpool to allow Salah to join the Olympic team, and they said they were waiting for the approval of the technical staff, but in the end, Liverpool refused the request because they do not want to lose the player at the beginning of the season, as well as next January with the Africa Cup of Nations, which will keep him from participating in the English Premier League matches.
“We spoke with Salah again, and he told us that he will make a new attempt with the technical staff of his team, to resolve the matter, and within the next two days he will find a way.”
Liverpool’s dilemma
Liverpool have a tough decision on their hands with regards to how to handle Salah’s international ambitions as they look ahead to the start of the 2021-22 season.
The Olympics football competition is due to kick off on July 22 and run until August 7, seven days before the new Premier League campaign begins.
Salah would miss the Reds’ entire pre-season schedule if he links up with his country and, depending on how much rest he needs following the Games, may then be a doubt for the Reds’ opening three top-flight fixtures against Norwich City, Burnley and Chelsea.
Salah’s international record
Salah won 11 caps for Egypt’s U23 side before graduating to the senior set-up in 2011, and has since appeared in 70 first-team games for his country, scoring 45 goals.
The closest the Liverpool talisman has come to winning international silverware was a runners-up medal at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, but he is now eyeing glory with Egypt’s next generation of stars in Tokyo.
Further reading
- Salah still in Egypt’s sights for Tokyo Olympics
- Liverpool urged to sell Salah as they ‘play better without him’
- Salah yet to discuss new Liverpool contract
