Gary Neville insists Mohamed Salah has "played" Liverpool after landing a new three-year contract.
The 30-year-old put pen to paper on a fresh deal worth in excess of £350,000 per week to make him the highest paid player in club history. Salah's previous contract was set to expire in June 2023, a situation which had put Liverpool in a difficult position over the past 12 months.
But after deciding to cash in on Sadio Mane, who had been in a similar situation with just one year left on his deal before departing for Bayern Munich, the Reds met their star's lofty demands and agreed on a lucrative deal which keeps him at Anfield until 2025. Manchester United legend Neville wasted little time in hinting that Salah's initial refusal to sign new terms was all part of the plan to squeeze more out of his employers.
"Salah has played them hasn't he," Neville tweeted, adding two laughing emojis and a winking face. United fans agreed in the replies section on Twitter, finding humour in the fact Liverpool have broken their rigid wage structure in order to keep Salah on Merseyside.
A delegation from Anfield, led by newly-appointed sporting director Julian Ward, flew out to Mykonos, where Salah is on holiday, to finalise negotiations. The Egyptian has explained the long time it took for the new deal to come together.
"It takes a little bit of time, I think, to renew, but now everything is done so we just need to focus on what's next," he stated. "If I look back to that time when I came, the club were not winning many things, but I think I told you I had come to win trophies.
"I think we have won good trophies together and I think we can do it again. I have enjoyed my football here at the club and hopefully I will continue to enjoy it and win many trophies."
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Klopp, who also recently signed an extension to 2026, has no doubts about if his No.11 will live up to his increased salary.
"I have no doubt Mo's best years are still to come – and that's saying something, because the first five seasons here have been the stuff of legend," the German boss declared. "Fitness-wise, he's a machine – in the most incredible shape. He works hard on it and he gets his rewards. His ability and his skill level gets higher each season, and his decision-making has gone to another level also. He is adored by his team-mates.
"As coaches we know we work with someone special. And the supporters have crowned him a king. So, very cool. It is just great news. It makes me smile thinking about it. He stays with us for longer and it means we can achieve more together. It's the best decision for us and best decision for him. He belongs with us I think. This is his club now."
