Saudi journalist Saud Al-Sarami, the former spokesperson for Al-Nassr FC, sparked outrage on social media following harsh statements attacking Egyptian star Mohamed Salah.
The Liverpool star is expected to move to the Saudi league next summer, and Al-Sarami criticized the idea, claiming the Egyptian player’s “era is over,” which triggered a wave of criticism against him.
Shocking statements from Al-Sarami about Salah
In an interview with Al-Arabiya FM radio, Al-Sarami said, “The era of the Egyptian Pharaoh is over. He no longer has anything to offer and is currently unsuitable for the Saudi league.”
He added, “What’s happening now is nothing but a promotional campaign by some Egyptian media outlets to push him towards the Saudi league. Some believe he would be a good fit for Al-Hilal, while others are suggesting he join Al-Ittihad.”
He continued, “We already have Egyptian players in our league. Dunga at Al-Najma is a prime example; he couldn’t keep up with the pace of the match against Al-Nassr and had to leave injured.”
He concluded sarcastically, “As I mentioned before, Mohamed Salah is not suitable for the Egyptian Premier League right now. He could move to Smouha in Egypt.”
Al-Sarami apologizes for his remarks against Salah
Following a wave of criticism from Arab fans, Al-Sarami retracted his statements, indicating that he had misspoken in some of his comments about one of the most prominent stars in world football.
The renowned Saudi media personality said, “I did not intend to offend the Egyptian star or anyone from his country. I apologize to everyone whose name was mentioned in my remarks. I appreciate everyone’s feelings because sportsmanship and respect are more important than anything else.”
He added, “I apologize to analyst Ahmed Afifi and Al-Najma player Nabil Emad Donga. As for Mohamed Salah, he is not just an Arab or African star, but a global icon.”
He continued, “These are not just my words; he has already received great praise from many legends such as Klopp, Pep Guardiola, and other coaches and legends.”
“There’s no questioning Mohamed Salah’s abilities; he’s a legend in every sense of the word, considering what he’s achieved with Liverpool and the Egyptian national team,” he concluded.
Will Mohamed Salah move to the Saudi League?
The latest reports from international media confirm that Salah is wanted by three Saudi clubs: Al-Ittihad, Al-Qadisiyah, and Al-Nassr. In recent hours, it has been suggested he might join Al-Hilal in a swap deal involving Marcos Leonardo.
Meanwhile, the 34-year-old is attracting interest from several major European clubs. Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona, in particular, are reportedly monitoring the situation, and one of them might attempt to sign the Egyptian player.
For nearly two months, numerous reports have surfaced indicating that Al-Ittihad has already been in contact with Salah, especially as the Jeddah-based club is pursuing a complete overhaul for the upcoming season, aiming to return to competing for various domestic and continental titles.
Over the past two years, Al-Qadisiyah has acquired several high-profile players, and there’s a vision for Salah as the new leader of the club’s ambitious project to win titles for the first time in many years. Al-Nassr may see Salah as the “successor to Cristiano Ronaldo” in leading their future global project, and through him, they could attract a large number of players to the MLS.
It’s worth noting that Salah’s move to the MLS is also possible, with Los Angeles FC specifically interested in the player. League Commissioner Don Garber welcomed the idea and expressed his hope to see him in the competition next year.
