Mohamed Salah has publicly addressed long-standing rumours surrounding his relationship with former Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane, confirming for the first time that there was tension between the two during their time at Anfield. In a candid interview with L’Equipe, the Egyptian star acknowledged the competitive strain that existed with Mane, despite their success as part of one of the most feared attacking trios in Premier League history.
Salah and Mane spent five years together under Jürgen Klopp, winning both the Premier League and Champions League while regularly terrorising defences alongside Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino. Yet, despite their on-field chemistry, their dynamic was far from friendly behind the scenes.
“Yes, there was tension with Sadio,” Salah admitted. “But we were professional until the end. Off the pitch, we weren’t very close, but we always respected each other.”
One of the most infamous moments highlighting their rivalry came in 2019 during a match against Burnley. Salah opted to shoot rather than square the ball to a wide-open Mane in the box. The Senegalese winger reacted furiously on the bench after being substituted, a moment that captured headlines and seemingly confirmed suspicions of a frosty relationship.
Their international rivalry added further complexity. In 2022, Mane’s Senegal defeated Salah’s Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations final, with Mane converting the decisive penalty. Months later, Senegal once again denied Egypt a place at the World Cup, deepening the sporting rivalry between the two stars.
Despite those heated moments, Salah strongly defended himself against accusations of being a selfish player. “People can think what they want,” he said. “But I invite everyone to note that the person who provided Mane with the most assists is me. We can look at the facts. At the end of the day, I know what I did and my conscience is clear.”
Indeed, Salah assisted Mane on 18 occasions during their Liverpool tenure, a statistic that underscores their professional synergy, even if their personal bond never blossomed.
Salah’s comments paint a picture of two elite athletes driven by ambition, who may not have shared a friendship but never let personal tension derail the team’s collective goals. Both players were known for their hunger to score and be the focal point of Klopp’s high-intensity attack, a trait that sometimes led to friction.
Today, their paths have diverged. Mane plays in the Saudi Pro League with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, while Salah remains Liverpool’s talisman, currently leading the Premier League in assists.
Their partnership may have lacked warmth off the pitch, but it delivered silverware and unforgettable moments on it. For Liverpool fans, the Salah-Mane era will be remembered not for a fractured friendship, but for the glory it brought to Anfield.
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