Mohamed Salah’s camp has denied claims the Liverpool star turned down a move to Real Madrid in 2018.
Former Egypt international Hany Ramzy, who also served as assistant coach to the national team, said on Saturday that Salah had discussed an approach from Madrid during a training camp in Switzerland in March 2018, not long before Egypt's appearance at the World Cup in Russia.
Ramzy told an Egyptian television station that he was present and privy to a conversation that also included then-Egypt manager Hector Cuper, stating Salah decided to remain at Liverpool despite having a “really good offer” from the Bernabeu club.
At the time, Salah was enjoying a breakout debut season with Liverpool and eventually finished the campaign with 32 goals – to seal the Premier League’s Golden Boot. Liverpool and Madrid would meet that May in the Uefa Champions League final.
However, taking to social media on Sunday, Salah’s chief adviser Ramy Abbas dismissed Ramzy’s comments, saying: "Mohamed never discussed any career plans with any ex-coach.”
Salah, 27, has been often linked with a transfer to La Liga despite becoming one of the Premier League leaders’ most prominent stars. Since joining Liverpool from Roma in 2017, the forward has scored 91 goals in 144 appearances, winning the English top flight's Golden Boot in successive seasons.
At present, Liverpool sit 25 points clear at the top of the table, with the league to meet on Monday to discuss a possible return to training and a push towards a resumption of action. The competition was halted in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
