Liverpool fans used to roll their eyes at the sight of Ramy Abbas Issa taking to social media.
The agent of Mohamed Salah, his cryptic messages regarding his client’s future frustrated anxious supporters last season. With the Egyptian out of contract in 2023 and hurtling towards the final 12 months of his deal, the last thing they wanted to see was Abbas ‘attention-seeking’ on Twitter.
Last March, when asked about the forward’s future at a time when it seemed an agreement over a new contract might not be reached, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp told reporters: "Mo definitely expects this club to be ambitious. We were in the last few years and we are.
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"We cannot do much more, that's how it is. But I don't think it's about that. It's Mo's decision pretty much. The club did what the club can do. That's how it is.
"Nothing bad to say about it. It's fine from my point of view. It's exactly like it should be in this moment in time. Everything is set. Nothing happened further, no signing, no rejection or whatever.
"We just have to wait for that. It's completely fine. No rush in that situation."
Within an hour, Abbas had his say on Twitter. Without saying a word, his string of seven laughing emojis seemingly disputed Klopp’s claims.
Come July, he was at it again. This time a solitary crying laughter emoji, which even prompted a reaction from Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher.
“All Reds love your client, and if he is to leave next summer we will wish him well & say a big thank you,” the former defender wrote when quote-tweeting Abbas’ initial post. “But we can do without this cryptic crap for the next 12 months! @MoSalah have a word!!”
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s own official Twitter account quote-retweeted that Abbas message with a facepalm emoji...yet soon after it emerged it was all just a ruse and part of the club’s plan to announce that Salah had in fact signed a new improved contract until 2025 which would make him the best-paid player in the club’s history.
“We fooled them all chief,” Carragher then joked to Salah and Abbas. Relieved Liverpool fans didn’t believe him. Like the rest of us, the former defender had been had.
At the time of Salah’s extension, the Reds had just finished a campaign where they nearly delivered an unprecedented quadruple and their star forward had won the Premier League Golden Boot. By committing his future to the club, more of the same was expected.
But while Salah has returned 22 goals for Liverpool this season, it has been a difficult campaign for the Reds. Currently sixth in the Premier League table, their hopes of finishing in the top four this year are hanging by a thread.
Meanwhile, their 6-2 aggregate loss to Real Madrid saw them exit the Champions League with a whimper at the round-of-16 stage, ending their hopes of silverware this season.
Since Salah was spotted having lunch with Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi back in January, amid Liverpool’s on-field struggles, his future has been the subject of scrutiny on the continent. As a result, Abbas has twice taken to Twitter again to have his say on the latest reports, though this time prompting a very different reaction from Kopites.
“Nonsense,” he wrote last month, coming in the aftermath of their 5-2 humbling to Real Madrid at Anfield, in response to a tweet that said Salah ‘is prepared to leave Liverpool if the Reds fail to qualify for the Champions League.’ “This was never discussed or thought about. Not qualifying to the Champions League hasn’t even crossed our minds."
And he spoke out again today as fresh reports again suggested Salah will look to leave Liverpool after their Champions League exit. The only difference this time is a move to La Liga was mooted rather than PSG, as has often been the case since that January meeting with Al-Khelaifi.
“Where did you get this from if not even Mohamed and I discussed this?” Abbas quote-tweeted to the journalist in question reporting this ‘transfer exclusive’. He added: “Please tell us.”
Of course, not discussing such a subject yet doesn’t mean it couldn’t come to fruition in the summer, but for now it is abundantly clear what is on Salah’s mind. Namely, scoring the goals that ensure the Reds qualify for next season’s Champions League against the odds.
While reports overseas might speculate about his future, there has been no suggestion he might look to leave the club on home soil. Having signed his new long-term contract last summer, there now is every reason to be relaxed about his situation in complete contrast to the uncertainty 12 months ago.
How times change. During Liverpool’s previous unwanted flirtations with the prospect of Champions League, or indeed their years in the wilderness away from Europe’s elite table, they became accustomed to their star players considering their futures.
Steven Gerrard would admit on the eve of the Reds’ 3-1 Champions League victory over Olympiakos in December 2004 that he would have consider leaving his beloved Liverpool if they failed to qualify. Even once he got his hands on the European Cup the following May, he still flirted with departing.
And while the Reds legend stayed put, Javier Mascherano, Fernando Torres, and Raheem Sterling would all push for the exit without the lure of Champions League football to keep them at Anfield. In the case of Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho, even qualification for the esteemed tournament wasn’t enough to stick around.
Yet for all those players, Liverpool were just a bridesmaid. Despite their struggles this year and the uncertainty that awaits them, now they are a bride having won every major honour on offer to them with Salah breaking records in attack.
If the Reds find themselves out of the Champions League next season, speculation about the forward’s future will continue. If their absence lasts any longer than a year, the 30-year-old may depart. That is inevitable.
But Liverpool are a long way from such a scenario just yet, with Salah still fighting hard for that top four finish. Beyond that, further silverware and records next season. You wouldn’t expect anything else from the Egyptian King.
In truth, there would be little ill-feeling if he did actually ask to leave come the summer. But such a prospect hardly seems realistic right now.
It would take a significant fee and hefty wage to lure him away from Anfield thanks to that new contract, regardless of a top four finish. Given he turns 31 in the summer, few clubs would be in a position to meet such hypothetical terms.
Mohamed Salah is a Liverpool legend. When the time comes for him to leave Anfield, he will depart as one of the Reds’ greatest ever players.
While reports overseas might suggest that day is coming sooner than anyone would like, the message from Abbas is clear. He has said exactly what Kopites want to hear, yet they are also words that hardly need saying.
There is a reason why, unlike 12 months ago, there is no anxious panicking regarding a potential Salah exit. He is as committed to Liverpool’s cause as they come.
Rather, the day when Abbas actually stops going to bat against such speculation, that is the day when Reds fans might actually be given reason to worry.
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