Mohamed Salah Opens Up About Tension With Ex‑Liverpool Team‑mate Sadio Mane
Mohamed Salah surprised fans when he confessed that his relationship with former Liverpool winger Sadio Mane was not always smooth. Speaking to France Football, the Egyptian forward said there were moments of tension off the pitch, but both players kept a professional front that never let the club’s performance suffer.
How the rivalry unfolded off the pitch
Salah admitted, “Yes, there was tension with Sadio. We were professional until the end, and I don’t think it affected the team. It’s human to want more, he’s a competitor.” He added that while they respected each other, they never became close friends outside of training and match days.
The revelation adds a new layer to the story of Liverpool’s most lethal attacking trio under Jürgen Klopp – Firmino, Salah and Mane. Their chemistry on the field was undeniable, yet behind the scenes the two Africans apparently kept a cautious distance, each driven by personal ambition.
Numbers that prove the partnership worked
Statistically, the partnership was a dream for any coach. Between 2017 and 2022, Salah set up Mane 17 times, matching Firmino for the most assists to the Senegalese forward. Mane, in turn, provided Salah with 12 assists, reinforcing the reciprocal nature of their play.
During their overlapping spell, Mane scored 120 goals in 269 appearances and handed out 37 assists, while Salah has become Liverpool’s third‑highest scorer of all time, tallying 244 league goals and 110 assists across all competitions.
Both players were central to the club’s 2019 Premier League triumph and the 2019 Champions League victory, delivering crucial goals and assists in the biggest matches. Their on‑field harmony seemed to drown out any personal discord.
Today, Salah is chasing another record‑breaking season, sitting just one goal shy of the Premier League single‑season scoring record. Meanwhile, Mane has swapped Anfield for Al‑Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where he lines up alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League.
Despite the off‑field distance, both stars agree that mutual respect and a shared desire to win kept their collaboration effective. Their story underscores how elite athletes can compartmentalise personal feelings to serve a greater team goal.