Liverpool have no concerns over Mohamed Salah after player supports club decision
There are no concerns inside Liverpool that Mohamed Salah is unhappy at missing this summer's Olympic Games with Egypt
Liverpool's decision to retain Mohamed Salah for Egypt's Olympic Games campaign was taken with the full support of the player himself.
And the club have no concerns about upsetting their star man after the call was taken to keep Salah for the entire summer schedule rather than flying out with his national team to compete for a gold medal in France.
The ECHO reported last week how Egypt were becoming increasingly resigned to not having their talisman with them for the Paris Games and the Reds will now have Salah in their ranks for the entire warm-up period.
READ MORE: New formation, new captain, new Mohamed Salah role - How Arne Slot first Liverpool XI could look
READ MORE: Gordon signs, Nunez on notice, Salah dilemma - Liverpool dream attack with Arne Slot plan
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info
The men's football tournament begins at the Olympics on July 24 with the final taking place on August 9, just eight days before the Reds kick off their Premier League season away at Ipswich Town and having such an important figure essentially unavailable for the pre-season period was far from ideal.
Instead, Salah is now one of a few first-team stars who will report back for training this weekend at the AXA Centre, providing Arne Slot with a huge boost as the new head coach plots his first few weeks in the role having succeeded Jurgen Klopp at the beginning of last month.
Egypt had hoped to have their captain as one of their three permitted players over the age of 23 for the Games but it is understood the Egyptian Football Association did not reach out to Liverpool directly to make the request.
Instead, there was an acceptance that Salah would not be cleared to represent his nation this summer due to the Olympics not being a FIFA-mandated tournament, just like he was three years ago at the Tokyo Olympics. Liverpool were under no obligation to release a player who has been their top scorer every season since he arrived from Roma for £36m in 2017.
It's understood the call for Salah to remain with his club this pre-season was taken with the blessing of their No.11 himself after consultation and he is keen to get off on the right foot for what is a new era at Anfield under Slot.
With Salah set to play for only his second manager on Merseyside in what will be his eighth campaign with the Reds, the now 32-year-old is determined to remain as influential for the new head coach as he was under Klopp, during a period where he registered 211 goals.
That means Salah will be part of the club's contingent that flies to the United States later this month for friendlies with Real Betis, Arsenal and Manchester United, and the full benefit of an entire pre-season schedule is being viewed as a hugely positive development.
It also means the Reds will be able to boast having their most recognisable star in tow on the lucrative tour of the States, which begins in Pittsburgh against Betis on July 26 before games against fierce rivals United in Philadelphia on July 31 and Arsenal in Columbia on August 3.