Star forward Mohamed Salah has been dramatically excluded from the Liverpool squad for their Champions League match against Inter Milan, the club confirmed Monday.
The decision follows an explosive interview given by the 33-year-old on Saturday, where he claimed he was “thrown under the bus” by the club and that his relationship with head coach Arne Slot had “broken down.”
The club stated the decision was made with Slot’s full support to allow Salah a “brief period away from selection.” No formal disciplinary action will be taken.
Salah’s comments came after he was an unused substitute in Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Leeds—his third straight game starting on the bench. He is now set to miss the Inter Milan game and Saturday’s fixture against Brighton before departing for the Africa Cup of Nations next Monday.
BBC Sport pundit Wayne Rooney criticized Salah’s actions as “disrespectful,” warning he was “destroying his legacy.”
Despite the drama, Salah trained with the team Monday, and reports suggest the club still sees a future for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year.
