Former Manchester United striker and England captain, Wayne Rooney, has criticised Mohamed Salah, describing him as “selfish” and suggesting that Liverpool should leave the forward out of their final game of the season following his public comments about manager Arne Slot.
Salah sparked controversy after Liverpool’s 4-2 loss to Aston Villa F.C., where he insisted the club needed to return to the “heavy metal” football style linked to former manager Jürgen Klopp.
“That is the football I know how to play, and that is the identity that needs to be recovered and kept for good.
“It cannot be negotiable, and everyone who joins this club should adapt to it,” Salah wrote on social media.
The remarks were widely interpreted as criticism of Slot’s tactical approach, a view Rooney strongly supported while condemning the Liverpool forward.
“I find it sad at the end of what he’s done and what he’s achieved at Liverpool.
“It’s not the point for him to come out and aim another dig at Slot,” Rooney said on the Wayne Rooney Show on Monday.
Rooney further questioned whether Salah is still suited to the high-intensity style he appeared to be advocating for Liverpool’s return.
“He wants to play heavy metal football, so he’s basically saying he wants Jurgen Klopp football.
“Now I don’t think Mo Salah can cope with that type of football anymore. I think his legs have gone to play at that high tempo and high intensity,” Rooney said.
The former England captain went on to argue that, if he were Slot, Salah should be omitted from Liverpool’s final match of the season against Brentford.
“If I were Arne Slot, I’d have him nowhere near the stadium in the last game.
“He’s almost just dropped the grenade and said he doesn’t trust and believe in Arne Slot,” he averred.
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Rooney also referenced his own past disagreement with former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, saying similar situations had occurred in his career.
“I had it with Alex Ferguson. “I had a disagreement and fallout and at Alex Ferguson’s last game at Old Trafford, he left me out of the squad for that reason,” he explained.
Salah, who is expected to leave Liverpool at the end of the season after scoring 257 goals and winning six major trophies, has had a mixed campaign despite helping the club secure the Premier League title in Slot’s debut season.
Rooney added that Salah’s recent comments risk overshadowing what should have been a celebratory farewell.
“You can’t publicly disrespect him twice the way he has and get away with it.
“Of course, he deserves a good send-off, but does he deserve it just for this? It’s a shame to see one of the great icons of Premier League players leave the Premier League probably in this situation,” Rooney added.