Liverpool legend hits NEW LOW in Saudi nightmare

The links between Mo Salah and Saudi Arabia won’t go away regardless of the Egyptian showing he is still playing at a world-leading level.

If Salah were to head to the Middle East it would almost certainly be for one of the four Public Investment Fund (PIF) owned clubs - Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, and Al-Ahli.

Many of Liverpool’s previous stars were unable to resist the temptation of the enormous salary offerings in Saudi Arabia. Sadio Mané joined up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, Fabinho signed for Al-Ittihad alongside Karim Benzema, and Gini Wijnaldum is now coached by Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq.

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Roberto Firmino, meanwhile, headed to Al-Ahli alongside Riyad Mahrez. His first season was a success, captaining the side to third in the Saudi Pro League whilst supplying 31 goal contributions in 43 games in all competitions.

This season, however, has been anything short of a success. Al-Ahli sit eighth in the league, seven points back from any of the other PIF-owned teams in third.

Firmino has only registered three goals in 13 games in all competitions, being relegated to substitute appearances due to the arrival of Ivan Toney from Brentford to the club.

Firmino woes open door to Salah

Now, former Al-Ahli star Hussein Abdulghani has called for Firmino to lose his captaincy. Saudi platform Kooora reports that instead Abdulghani “praised the performance of Al Ahly's Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, noting that he hopes to see him as the team's captain”.

"Mendy's injury is a big loss.” said the former star, “I criticized him at the beginning of his career with the team, but now I demand that he be the captain."

We previously reported that Firmino’s ongoing crisis opens the door for the PIF to view Mo Salah as the perfect player to solve Al-Ahli’s woes. With Toney replacing Firmino at the centre of attack, there is a place for Salah on the wing if they are willing to move Riyad Mahrez over to the left.

This additional blow for Firmino only intensifies that idea. With the recent announcement that the Saudi government are looking to reduce the PIF’s international investments from 30% to around 20% to focus on domestic investment, the calls to get the Salah signing over the line will only intensify.

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