Mohamed Salah's former club in his native Egypt have responded to the claims made by Chelsea owner Todd Boehly that the Egyptian superstar was a product of the Stamford Bridge academy system.
Boehly, who acquired ownership of the Londoners in May after former owner Roman Abramovich was forced to sell the club due to his close ties with the Russian Kremlin, was speaking at the SALT New York conference and bizarrely made claims about the club's recent academy successes.
“We have one of the best academies in the world," said Boehly. "If you look at what our academy has developed, our academy is Mo Salah, Kevin De Bruyne. More recently Tammy Abraham, Reece James, Mason Mount, Trevoh Chalobah.”
READ MORE: Arthur Melo rumours shot down as 'inside story' from Liverpool training emerges
READ MORE: The Roberto Firmino trait that has eased Jurgen Klopp concern over new Liverpool signings
But after the American's claims went viral in the following hours on social media, along with his suggestion of a North versus South Premier League All-Star fixture, Salah's former club responded.
One of the club's directors, Mohamed Adel Fathi, hit back in a Facebook post, saying: “What the new owner of Chelsea says shows a lack of understanding. Mohamed Salah is a source of pride for the Al Mokawloon Club and Egyptian and Arab football, and we are honoured that he is one of our sons. The whole world knows Salah's career and how he started with us, but it seems that the owner of Chelsea is the only person in the world who is ignorant of this information.”
Boehly seems to have missed the fact that Salah started his career in his native Egypt, with Cairo-based club Al Mokawloon Al Arab SC. The Egyptian spent six years with the Egyptian Premier League side before making a move to Europe with FC Basel.
It was during his time with the Swiss champions that Salah made a name for himself in the European game as impressive performances against Chelsea in the Champions League group stages and Tottenham in the Europa League were enough to convince Premier League sides to make a move for the then 20-year-old.
After Liverpool had explored the possibility of signing Salah, it was Chelsea and Jose Mourinho who eventually secured his signature. But, much like Kevin de Bruyne, Salah only spent two years in London due to a lack of game time and eventually departed on a permanent deal to Italian outfit AS Roma in 2016.
Having made 123 senior appearances in total for Al Mokawloon Al Arab SC and Basel before singing for Chelsea, it is pretty incomprehensible to label the Egyptian as a graduate of Chelsea's Cobham academy.
READ NEXT:
- Liverpool plan for Arthur Melo is clear despite Jude Bellingham links and Thiago Alcantara return
- Roberto Firmino has played unseen role in helping Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez at Liverpool
- Chelsea sold the man who 'cost' Liverpool a Premier League title for £4.3m
- Liverpool urged to complete January transfer for midfielder and stop 'free' move to rivals
- Liverpool sent Jude Bellingham transfer warning as 'list of possible next clubs' emerges
