Real Madrid can’t afford Mo Salah, according to ex-president

Nicholas Hughes

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 2 min read

Real Madrid are interested in signing Mohamed Salah from Liverpool but won’t be able to afford him, according to ex-president Ramon Calderon.

The Egyptian raised eyebrows earlier in the season by hinting that he might welcome a move to Barcelona or Real Madrid, and the Galacticos are believed to have been on red alert ever since.

And while Zinedine Zidane’s side are interested in signing the 28-year-old, Calderon believes Liverpool would be desperate to keep him.

“He is a great player and a goalscorer. He helped Liverpool by giving his best, but I don’t think they’ll let him go,” he told ON Time Sports.

“It is expected that, if they were to think about it, they would only let him go for a lot of money.”

Salah currently leads the Premier League golden boot race with 17 goals and recently scored in the Reds’ crucial win in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 against RB Leipzig.

The Reds’ No.11 said he wants to stay at the club “as long as I can” earlier this year but stressed it was in the hands of the club.

Real Madrid have been heavily linked with a move for Kylian Mbappe, but the Frenchman seems set to stay at PSG for at least one more season before aiming for a new challenge.

Real Madrid could miss out on their big targets

Perhaps turning their attention to Salah as a result, any potential deal would be “crucial” for the club according to Calderon, but would come at an almost impossible cost.

“Salah is a great player with fantastic potential, and any club wishes to acquire such talents, but for Real Madrid I do not think they have the financial means to sign Salah,” he said.

Madrid have been decimated by injuries in recent weeks, taking just 12 senior outfield players to their Champions League Round of 16 first leg tie against Atalanta.

The club will certainly be targeting depth when the transfer market opens again in the off-season, but it appears the arrival of a star player could be put on hold for the time being.