Wayne Rooney criticises Mohamed Salah for selfish remarks
Wayne Rooney has accused Mohamed Salah of acting “selfishly” after the Liverpool star appeared to aim another public dig at manager Arne Slot, reports BritPanorama.
Salah ignited debate over the weekend following Liverpool’s 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa with a strongly worded social media post. The Egyptian, who is set to leave Anfield when his contract expires this summer, expressed disappointment over Liverpool’s current struggles and called for a return to the “heavy metal attacking football” associated with former manager Jürgen Klopp.
Rooney believes the comments were a needlessly public jab at Slot during an already challenging period for the Dutchman. “I find it sad at the end of what he’s done and what he’s achieved at Liverpool,” Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show. “It’s not the point for him to come out and aim another dig at Slot.”
He interpreted Salah’s statements as a preference for Klopp’s philosophy over Slot’s more measured approach, implying a clear endorsement of the former manager. “He wants to play heavy metal football, so he’s basically saying he wants Jürgen Klopp football,” Rooney added. “Now I don’t think Mo Salah can cope with that type of football anymore. I think his legs have gone to play at that high tempo and high intensity.”
The former Manchester United captain suggested that he would exclude Salah entirely from Liverpool’s final home match of the season against Brentford on Sunday. “If I was Arne Slot, I’d have him nowhere near the stadium in the last game,” Rooney stated. “He’s almost just dropped the grenade and said he doesn’t trust and believe in Arne Slot and almost thrown his teammates who are going to be there next season and let them have to deal with that as well.”
Rooney compared this situation to his own falling-out with Sir Alex Ferguson, revealing he was left out of Ferguson’s final match at Old Trafford after a disagreement. Salah’s remarks come at a time when he has experienced a frustrating season by his own standards, having scored only seven league goals after winning the Premier League Player of the Season award in the previous campaign.
Rooney suggested that Salah’s statement was a calculated move to vindicate himself, asserting, “I think he’s been very selfish in what he’s done.” He noted this as a potential response to his declining performances. “Mo Salah knows exactly what he’s doing. That’s your manager. You can’t publicly disrespect him twice the way he has and get away with it,” Rooney said.
Despite his criticisms, Rooney acknowledged Salah’s remarkable legacy at Liverpool, where he has won nine major trophies and solidified his status as one of the finest players in Premier League history. “It’s just a shame to see one of the great iconic Premier League players leave the Premier League in this situation,” he reflected.
In his controversial post, Salah remarked that Liverpool had “crumbled to yet another defeat” and insisted the club must rediscover the attacking identity that made them one of Europe’s most feared teams under Klopp. Whether the club can secure Champions League qualification for next season remains uncertain as they approach their final matches.
