"I don't even try to watch him play." That's Egyptian football director Ibrahim Hassan talking about Lionel Messi — and he's using it as a warning shot aimed directly at Mohamed Salah.
Hassan made his position clear on On Sports: if Salah heads to MLS after leaving Liverpool this summer, he risks disappearing from the football conversation entirely. His exact words were blunt enough to sting: "Nobody will remember Salah anymore, just like I don't remember Messi."
It's a provocative line, but there's a real argument buried in it. European football dominates the global spotlight — the Champions League, the Premier League, Serie A. MLS, for all its growth, still operates in a different media universe. Salah spent the last eight years being one of the most-discussed players on the planet. A move to the States would almost certainly change that.
Where Salah Actually Ends Up
Hassan's preferred destinations for the Egyptian are PSG, Bayern Munich, or clubs in the Italian league. He'd accept the Saudi Pro League if European interest doesn't materialize — pointing to the draw of playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo as a factor worth considering.
Salah's agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, has been deliberately vague. His post on X this week read: "We do not know where Mohamed will play next season. This also means that no one else knows." A clean, controlled message — which usually means negotiations are either very early or very specific and private.
One route that's been firmly ruled out: Inter Miami. Fabrizio Romano was explicit on his YouTube channel this week, saying Miami have held no negotiations with Salah's camp whatsoever. "Salah has not opened talks with Inter Miami," Romano said, adding that the Saudi Pro League "finally have a real shot" after two years of failed attempts.
What This Means for the Betting Market
Salah is a free agent this summer after cutting short his Anfield contract — which means no transfer fee and maximum negotiating power. That opens the door to clubs that couldn't previously justify the outlay. Saudi clubs, already awash with cash, are the logical frontrunners right now. PSG and Bayern represent the more intriguing football outcomes, but whether either club genuinely moves for a 33-year-old winger at the top of the wage market is a different question.
The Saudi Pro League odds on landing Salah should be treated seriously. Romano flagged it. Hassan endorsed it as a fallback. And Salah's agent has been conspicuously quiet about ruling it out.
