It’s been a disappointing month for Mo Salah.
Less than four weeks ago, things couldn’t have been going much better for the little Egyptian schemer. With a Champions League final on the horizon and a kind World Cup group over the hedge, May, June and July were supposed to be his swashbuckling seasons’ crowning glory.
But through little fault of his own and a large portion of bad luck to boot, these potentially career defining moments couldn’t possibly have gone much worse.
Hauled off after 29 minutes in Kiev, the shoulder injury Salah sustained on the back of some Sergio Ramos thuggery kept him out of his country’s crucial first group game against Uruguay, and he was consequentially not at full flight when he did eventually join the part on Tuesday night.
That was too late and despite managing his customary goal, the wheels were already derailing the Egyptian wagon by the time the game began and an energetic Russian side killed them off.
Egypt became the first team eliminated from the 2018 World Cup.
“It’s absolutely devastating for him because the two biggest moments of his career to date, the Champions League final -he has to go off due to injury. He misses the first game of the World Cup. In the second game, okay he scores a penalty – only the third Egyptian to score at a World Cup. But it’s not what he would have wanted, what he would have dreamed of, what he’s worked so hard for,” said football correspondent Melissa Reddy on The JOE World Cup Minipod on Tuesday night.
So instead of building on his sizeable Balon d’Or credentials, Salah’s 40+ goal season ended trophy-less and in dejection.
Liverpool fans will worry about Salah. How the hell could they feel safe staring into a long summer with one of the world’s best players when Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho left them in the vapours in similar situations in years gone by?
The worry is of course, that a man like Salah would be swayed by the always lurking presence of giants Real Madrid, that he’ll feel that it’s the next logical step to giving his individual exploits the biggest stage to make even more progress.
Reddy, who has close ties with the Anfield was quick to bat away suggestions that a deflated Salah’s head will be turned, and she feels that he’ll kick on in red next season.
“The thing with Salah though is that he’s generally quite good at turning that disappointment and frustration into something tangible for next season. I think he’ll use it as motivation, as inspiration to kick into the next step and to try and ensure he has big moments again in his career.
“May June, July were supposed to be defining for him, but I think he’ll up the ante to ensure he has those kinds of defining moments again.
“What are Real Madrid in the market for? Can they afford another superstar figure when they have Ronaldo? You look at Gareth Bale, he’s curtailed somewhat because he’s not appreciated for who and what he is becuase he’s not Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I think players weigh that up as well. I think ultimately, if that’s Salah’s ambition to play for Madrid, when the time comes, he will go,” added Reddy.
On episode 4 of the JOE World Cup Minipod, Paddy McKenna and Dion Fanning were joined by JOE.co.uk’s Melissa Reddy to discuss Egypt, Mo Salah and the form of African teams in the competition.
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