Salah 'has to experience Real Madrid', insists Neville
Martin Macdonald
- 18 Oct 2021 10:37 CDT
- 6 min read
Mohamed Salah could move to Real Madrid if Los Blancos come calling, in the opinion of Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville.
Due to his performances so far this campaign, Salah has sparked a debate as to who the best player in the world is currently.
While the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe continue to be involved in such a discussion, many fans and pundits believe Salah is performing a level above these superstars currently.
In 10 matches in all competitions for Liverpool in 2021/22 he has scored 10 goals and recorded four assists.
It isn't just the numbers, either, but the quality of the goals.
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Salah scored one of the goals of the season against Manchester City a few weeks ago yet somehow bettered that effort in the weekend's match against Watford, which Liverpool won 5-0.
Collecting possession inside the box with a flurry of Watford players around him, he danced his way out of trouble, utilising an outrageous dragged backheel touch in the process, put Craig Cathcart on his backside before cutting back on to his left foot to lash a finish home.
He wasn't up against much, but the skill on display was that of a man at the very, very top of his game.
Things may be going swimmingly on the pitch for Salah, but off the pitch there remains a question mark hanging over his future as he remains locked in talks with Liverpool over a new contract.
The Egyptian allegedly wants to become the highest paid player in the club's history to sign a new deal, surpassing the current highest-earner Virgil van Dijk.
As long as he fails to put pen to paper on an extended contract, transfer speculation will remain, particularly with regards to Real Madrid after Salah himself admitted previously that it was a dream of his to play in Spain.
Will Salah sign for Real Madrid?
Neville believes that Salah is among an ilk of players who deserve to have a team like Real Madrid on their CV, and that the potential honour of featuring in the famous Los Blancos it might be too much for him to ignore.
“I don’t think he will stay at Liverpool for the rest of his career," he said on Sky Sports' Overlap forum.
"It's my personal view. It’s always been that view but I could be wrong.
“The Premier League would be weaker if he left. I just think you look at someone like Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Kylian Mbappe, it’s not all about the money.
“There’s a project and there’s something they have to achieve in their lives. They have to play at certain clubs, they have to go and experience certain things.
“I think Salah’s got to experience Real Madrid, the Bernabeu. Real Madrid are going to come back, by the way.
“I know it’s not great at the moment at Barcelona and Madrid but Salah is similar to those I’ve just mentioned, I think he has to have that on his CV at the end of his career.
“I think he’s done an unbelievable job at Liverpool. I’ve just always felt he wants a Paris, a Real Madrid, a Barcelona and I think he’ll go and get it. But I might be wrong!”
