Mohamed Salah has revealed why he decided to join Chelsea FC instead of Liverpool when the two clubs fought for his signature in January 2014.
It is safe to say that Mohamed Salah’s Chelsea FC career has not gone as he would have liked. The winger has made minimal appearances for the Blues and currently finds himself on his second loan spell in as many years. However, he has revealed that a call from then-manager Jose Mourinho was the deciding factor in his initial Stamford Bridge switch.
The Egyptian was being pursued by both Chelsea and Liverpool during the 2013/14 season, but he snubbed the Reds in order to join a rebuilding West London side. Apparently, the choice was a hard one to make, but a phone call from Mourinho sealed the deal.
"I was waiting for Liverpool because I really like Liverpool. I was eager to join them. But then I received a phone call from Mourinho and that changed everything. He explained the situation to me and told me that he needed me at Chelsea. That was one of the main reasons why I joined Chelsea. – via Liverpool Echo"
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Salah would have been justified in thinking that his career was about pick up in a significant way. The Special One had just returned to Stamford Bridge and all indications were that he was putting together a team for the long-term. The winger was hand-picked as one of the players needed to fulfil Mourinho’s ambitions.
He would be used fairly frequently as the 2013/14 season concluded, taking the field in 11 competitive games for Chelsea. However, he found it difficult during the next campaign, making just eight appearances (four as a substitute) for the eventual double-winners. Salah was then shipped off to Fiorentina on loan in February 2015 for the rest of the term.
The winger was once again deemed surplus to requirements this season as he was loaned out to AS Roma for the year. To his credit, Salah has been back to his best in this latest spell, showing Chelsea fans why Mourinho picked up the phone in the first place.
This current loan deal reportedly includes an option to make the move permanent, one that will probably be seriously considered. He appears to be enjoying his football in the Serie A and his 31 appearances thus far prove that the club regard him as an important player.
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Having said that, given Chelsea’s turmoil this season and the inevitable arrival of Antonio Conte in the summer, could Salah receive a second chance at Stamford Bridge?