The Egyptian King has signed a new, two-year deal at Anfield, meaning he's now in a position to enhance an already stellar legacy
'More in than out'? You've got to hand it to the marketing and social media teams at Liverpool. They've got a cheeky sense of humour. And at least everyone involved in the painfully protracted negotiations over Mohamed Salah's contract extension can laugh about it all now.
Because, at the time, there was nothing funny about the Egyptian revealing last November that he was "more out than in" at Anfield.
"I haven't received anything yet about my future," Salah told reporters after the 3-2 win over Southampton at St. Mary's. "There is no club like this. I love the fans. The fans love me. But it is not in my hands or the fans' hands. So, let's wait and see."
In the end, we had to wait nearly another five full months before the future of the best player in the Premier League was finally resolved, which remains difficult to get one's head around as we could be talking about the Premier League's GOAT here…
No place like Anfield
There was, of course, always the expectation that Salah would end up staying at Liverpool. When he says he loves the club, and the city, he really means it.
"I have had the best years of my career," he told the Reds' official website after signing his new, two-year deal. "I'm enjoying my life here, I'm enjoying my football. My family also feels at home.
"It's a special moment always when you play at Anfield. There is no place like it. The warmth you feel inside. The song before the game. Everything about it, every time you score a goal and they sing my song, it's something special.
"And the story will continue…"
Which is obviously just as well for Liverpool's owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), and sporting director Richard Hughes, as they'd have had to deal with the most bitter backlash from the fans if they'd lost one of the greatest players in the club's history for nothing.
AdvertisementPlaying better than ever?
Some continue to question the wisdom of giving a lucrative new deal to a player that turns 33 in June but Salah's form left Liverpool with no choice. He's playing as well as – if not better than – ever before.
Salah has carried Arne Slot's attack for the majority of the season. He's scored 27 goals in 31 games, meaning he's not only on course to equal Thierry Henry's record haul of four Premier League Golden Boots, he's also poised to claim his first European Golden Shoe.
And as Slot said, "What makes it even more impressive is that he does this year after year after year. Not many players are able to do that and that he is able to do this tells you a lot about the quality he has."
The all-round excellence
However, we're also seeing a far less selfish Salah this season, which is the result of a very deliberate effort to improve those around him.
"That's part of growing," he explained in an interview with . "You want everybody to play well because you’re not going to win the league alone, so you want other players to also perform.
"That’s what I’m trying to do the last few months, probably from the beginning of the season, to study their games and understand what the players like. In the past, when I was younger, I just focused on myself more on the pitch.
"So far, I think this is my best season because I make the players around me better as well. That’s what I feel. I know their games. All the numbers around all the players are going to be higher than other seasons. Plus my assists are higher which means I'm really helping them a lot."
The numbers certainly support Salah's claim, as he now needs to create three more goals to become the only other player other than Henry to register more than 20 goals and assists in the same Premier League season – which would just be the ultimate testament to his all-round excellence and the perfect illustration of why Liverpool were willing to give him an extension.
Driven by trophies, not money
Losing Salah this summer would have been a disaster for Liverpool – because there's not a single winger on the market capable of replacing him.
Deep down, there must have also been a temptation for Salah to take the massive amounts of money on offer in Saudi Arabia and leave Anfield on a high, after playing a starring role in a Premier League triumph.
However, it's clear that as he approaches his 33rd birthday in June, Salah remains as fit (he's started all 31 of Liverpool's Premier League games so far this season) as he is hungry.
This is not a man motivated by money – but by silverware – and the seamless transition Slot has overseen since succeeding Jurgen Klopp as manager has clearly played a pivotal part in Salah's decision.
"We have a great team now," Salah told the club's website. "Before also we had a great team but I signed because I think we have a chance to win other trophies."