Mo Salah identified as 'special' Barcelona signing after broken transfer promise

11 June 2024 , 11:03

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Mo Salah has just a year left on his Liverpool deal (Image: Getty Images)

Andres Iniesta believes Mohamed Salah had the makings of a “special” signing for Barcelona.

Liverpool star Salah currently faces an uncertain future. He has just one year remaining on his contract at Anfield and speculation continues to mount over his future. Saudi clubs have long been attempting to tempt him to the Middle East. Interest in Salah has also been notable in Spain from Barcelona and Real Madrid in particular in recent years too.

But Salah stayed loyal to Jurgen Klopp and the Reds, staying in the Premier League. The forward himself hinted in 2020 that he would be open to a move to the Camp Nou.

He said: "I think Madrid and Barcelona are two top clubs. Who knows what will happen in the future, but right now I am focused on winning the Premier League and the Champions League with Liverpool again."

At the time, Barcelona president Joan Laporta hinted that Salah was interested in a switch. Speaking with Spanish radio station RAC1, he said: "Top players want to join Barca, that's clear. I can't say if we're in talks for [Robert] Lewandowski and [Mohamed] Salah or not, or in the club, they'll tell me that I'm creating problems in the negotiations."

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Indeed, Barcelona made a promise to Salah in the summer of 2022. Catalan chiefs told the forward that he could join them on a free transfer the following season, when his contract had been due to end. In the end, that promise wasn't enough and Salah inked a new deal with Liverpool.

Now, Barca legend Iniesta has shared his regret at the Catalan giants not managing to get a deal over the line for Salah. Speaking on the Vamos La Liga podcast, he insisted: “Signing Mohamed Salah would have been a special deal for Barcelona.”

Salah's deal saw him become the highest-paid player in the club’s history. Salah has continued to be a key player for the Reds ever since. He scored 30 goals during the 2022/23 campaign and followed that up with a further 25 last season.

Questions do however remain over Salah’s long-term future on Merseyside.

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Daniel Orme