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Football
Dejan Lovren claims Mohamed Salah would have remained at Liverpool if he had known about Arne Slot's departure earlier.
Liverpool are navigating a period of significant transition, with Andoni Iraola now leading the club and Mohamed Salah having left after nine years as a key player. Salah announced his departure at the end of last season, leaving the new manager to begin his tenure without the prolific forward.
The Basque coach Iraola aims to implement his own style and philosophy at Liverpool following the sacking of Arne Slot. Salah’s exit marks the end of an era for the club, as he had been their standout player for nearly a decade.
Some fans had hoped Salah might reconsider his decision after Slot’s departure, given reports of a complicated relationship between the two. However, former Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren has dismissed these hopes, stating that Salah’s decision to leave is final.
Speaking to WinWin, Lovren said, "No, it's over. Mo has a big personality too. I don't know, if they hadn't announced all of that, all the details of leaving, saying thank you and goodbye and saying goodbye, maybe yes, but now it's difficult."
Lovren added that Salah would have stayed at Liverpool if he had been aware of Slot’s exit sooner. "Yes, he would have stayed 100%. Believe me, he would have stayed 100%, I know that. But the timing was bad," he explained.
He also emphasized Salah’s continued value to the team, stating, "Only a fool would say we no longer need him. Only a fool would say that. I mean, to say you don't need Mohamed Salah at Liverpool, when he can still perform at the highest level for another two or three years, then we have a problem understanding football."
During the latter part of the previous season, Salah and Slot reportedly had a strained relationship, with the forward publicly criticizing the manager twice. Salah has not yet disclosed his next destination following his departure from Liverpool.
Meanwhile, former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez is reportedly interested in returning to the Premier League. Nunez moved to Al-Hilal in the summer of 2025 for £46.3 million but has struggled to make an impact in Saudi Arabia.
After being dropped from the squad in February following the signing of Karim Benzema, Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo reports that Nunez is open to a return to Liverpool. However, the report also notes that Chelsea, under new management by Xabi Alonso, has shown interest in the striker. Barcelona and Newcastle United are also mentioned as possible destinations.
Nunez joined Liverpool in the 2022 summer transfer window from Benfica for an initial fee of £64 million. He scored 40 goals in 143 appearances but started only eight Premier League matches during Liverpool’s championship-winning season.
Upon leaving Liverpool, Nunez said, "Liverpool will always be part of who I am. I'll miss you more than words can say. To all the staff and my teammates - thank you and all the very best for the future."
