Egypt U-23 head coach Shawky Gharib has said they will ask Liverpool to release Mo Salah for the Olympic Games in August.
Every team at the tournament is allowed three players over the age of 23 and Gharib wants to call up the 28-year-old to have the best chance of getting a medal:
“Salah is very valuable in Egypt and outside of Egypt. He’s the top scorer of the English Premier League and one of the best players in the world. It doesn’t make sense to aim for an Olympic medal and not try to include a player like him in your team. We are preparing a file regarding Salah’s participation before contacting Liverpool, officially.”
With the Olympics in Japan set to take place at the beginning of next season, Salah is likely to miss a number of league games, and fans on Twitter think the Reds should stop the forward from going:
The answer is no.
— uBhebhatov (@KhumaloMphe) March 19, 2021
No way. Mickey mouse tournament.
He needs to rest up to prepare for next season— BigBigVirgil (@LFCAnfieldRd) March 19, 2021
They can contact all they want we should have the phone programmed to say no already as soon as they call
— Reon Doshi (@r3ond0shi) March 19, 2021
— Sismo (@_Sismo__) March 19, 2021
Hope it’s refused
— Paul Kent (@PaulKen73299734) March 19, 2021
Please don’t release him to play
— FAROUK 78692 supporter for 50years (@Mahomed64720744) March 19, 2021
Hopefully it’s a no
— Dj (@Dj89056623) March 19, 2021
It’s likely that Salah will have the final say on whether he wants to go or not. He is undoubtedly one of Liverpool’s most important players, but he may not want to miss out on the opportunity to play for his country in the Olympics.
After the Egyptian FA send their letter next month, we will likely find out more about what will happen.
