Mohamed Salah has set the record straight regarding his departure from Chelsea in 2015, emphasizing that it was his personal decision to move to Serie A. The Egyptian superstar also reaffirmed his “great and strong” relationship with his former manager, Jose Mourinho, debunking long-standing rumors of a rift between the two.
Salah: “I Love Mourinho Dearly”
In a recent interview, the 34-year-old Liverpool legend was asked about his current relationship with the “Special One.” Salah responded with high praise for his former coach:
“Jose is a fantastic person; I love him dearly,” Salah said. “He is one of the best managers I have ever worked with in my life, and our relationship remains very good today.”
He added, “I genuinely like him, and I don’t want people to think there is any animosity or hatred between us.”
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The Truth Behind the 2015 Departure
For years, many fans and pundits blamed Jose Mourinho for “discarding” Salah, who later returned to England to become a Premier League icon with Liverpool. However, Salah revealed the details of the private conversation that led to his exit.
“I had a conversation with Jose at the time. He told me he wanted me to stay at Chelsea or perhaps go on loan to another club within the Premier League because he still believed in my potential,” Salah explained.
“I told him no, I want to leave. There was too much pressure at Chelsea, and I wanted to experience Italian football. I informed him that I didn’t want to go on a loan only to return to the same situation; I wanted to leave England entirely because I knew I could achieve great things in Italy.”
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From Chelsea Struggles to Italian Success
Salah’s stint at Stamford Bridge under Mourinho saw him struggle for consistent game time, making only 19 appearances and scoring two goals.
His journey in Italy proved he was right. After a successful loan spell at Fiorentina (9 goals in 26 matches), he moved to AS Roma, where he truly flourished. During his time with the Giallorossi, Salah scored 34 goals and provided 21 assists, eventually prompting Liverpool to bring him back to the Premier League in a £34 million deal in 2017.
Since then, Salah has cemented his status as one of the greatest players in football history, but he clearly hasn’t forgotten the pivotal decision he made a decade ago—and the manager who allowed him to make it.
