At a busy cafe in Cairo’s Shoubra neighborhood, Liverpool games no longer draw the usual crowds. Once filled wall-to-wall with fans, the cafe now hosts only a handful of customers quietly shuffling cards or scrolling on their phones. Mohamed Salah, Egypt’s celebrated football star, has been left on the bench for three consecutive matches, prompting a rare public rebuke of manager Arne Slot. Salah told reporters he felt “thrown under the bus” by the club he has called home for over seven years.
Fans expressed disappointment, noting the absence of excitement that used to accompany every Liverpool match. Adel Samy, 40, a longtime fan, recalled that the cafe would overflow whenever Salah played. “We’re upset, of course. He doesn’t deserve what’s happening,” Samy said. Islam Hosny, 36, who helps run the family cafe, added, “The street outside used to be packed, like an Ahly-Zamalek derby. Now, no one comes because they know he’s not playing.”
How Salah’s Absence Impacts Fans and Cairo’s Football Culture
Salah has been pivotal to Liverpool’s resurgence in European football since joining in 2017. With 250 goals in 420 appearances, he is Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer and Egypt’s most prominent sporting export. His achievements include two Premier League titles, a Champions League victory, and triumphs in the FA Cup, League Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup. Yet this season, Salah has struggled, scoring five goals in 19 appearances. Liverpool has won only five of their last 16 matches across all competitions, leaving fans frustrated.
Fans in Cairo are vocal about their disappointment. Mohamed Abdelaziz, 40, said, “Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, and all players go through dips, but they still play.” Shady Hany, 18, added, “How can a player like Mohamed Salah sit on the bench for so long? It is time for Salah to leave.”
What’s Next for Salah: Transfers and Legacy
Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted on Monday that he had “no clue” whether Salah would play for the club again. Salah, due to join Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations after the upcoming Premier League match against Brighton, has 18 months left on his £400,000-a-week contract signed in April.
Saudi clubs are reportedly eyeing Salah for a winter transfer. Al-Ittihad, whose £150-million bid was rejected two years ago, along with Al-Hilal and Aramco-backed Al Qadsiah, are monitoring the situation. Despite the financial interest, Egyptian sports pundit Hassan Khalafallah emphasized that Salah’s focus is on career and legacy rather than money. “If he cared that much about money, he would have accepted earlier offers from Gulf clubs. What matters to Salah is his career and his legacy,” Khalafallah said.
Salah’s rise from the Nile Delta village of Nagrig to global stardom at Anfield is a classic underdog story. After starting at Egypt’s El Mokawloon, moving to Basel in Switzerland, enduring a tough spell at Chelsea, and finding form at AS Roma, he became one of the Premier League’s most celebrated players. Shady Hany concluded, “Salah is an Egyptian star we are all proud of. Saudi Arabia is money, but Salah deserves more. He still has so much ahead of him.”
Liverpool’s current struggles and Salah’s benching have transformed Cairo’s football culture, highlighting how deeply the Egyptian star’s presence resonates both locally and internationally. Fans await the next chapter of Salah’s journey, hopeful that their “Egyptian king” will continue to shine on and off the pitch.
By Yockshard Enyendi
