Al Kholood owner, Ben Harburg, has shut down speculation linking Mohamed Salah with a move to the Saudi Pro League, insisting the Liverpool forward would not be a suitable fit for the competition.
Speaking to reporters, Harburg argued that Salah is no longer performing at the level expected of a marquee signing and accused the Egyptian star of lacking strong team spirit. He added that Salah’s recent controversies have further shaped his opinion.
According to Harburg, several Saudi clubs may be interested in the Liverpool legend, but he believes signing the 33-year-old would not benefit the league.
“He’s 33 years old, he got paid a boatload a year or so ago, whatever it was, and has underperformed massively since then. He doesn’t strike me as a great team player,” he said.
“As an owner, when I look at the way he behaved there… if a player isn’t performing, they’re not going to be in the starting lineup.
We don’t put people in the starting lineup based on what they did three seasons ago, or even last season.”
Harburg added that all these factors create “a fairly toxic combination,” making Salah a poor fit for the SPL.
“I’m sure some people like his star power—he’s from the region—but my sentiment is that he is not a fit for our league. If it were between him and Vinicius, I’d take Vinicius,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, reports in England suggest Salah may have already played his final game for Liverpool, as he is reportedly not in manager Arne Slot’s plans for the remainder of the season.
