Timing of Salah’s ‘immensely tough’ decision interestingpublished at 10:36 BST
10:36 BST
Man City v Liverpool (Sat, 12:45 BST)
Aadam Patel
BBC Sport Liverpool Reporter
The news of Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool departure came 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.
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.