Exclusive: “His Impact Is Insane” – Ahmed Hassan Kuka On ‘Brother’ Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool Legacy | OneFootball

Liverpool may have returned to winning ways on Saturday, but one of the goals brought about a stark sense of realisation that an era is soon about to come to a premature end. 

Mohamed Salah recently announced that this would be the final season of the 33-year-old’s illustrious nine-year spell on Merseyside, making the celebration to recognise the forward’s 256th strike all the more poignant as Anfield begins to bid farewell to a true modern-day legend.

Dan spoke to Al-Ettifaq striker Ahmed Hassan Kuka, who played with Salah at the youth and senior level for the Egyptian national team, to find out more about the legacy of the Egyptian King…

MO SALAH ANNOUNCES LIVERPOOL EXIT | BREAKING NEWS – DAN REACTS

On their friendship: “I have known him since we were kids. He’s like a brother to me, and a very close friend as well. It’s been special to see him become the player he is today, which nobody in Egypt could’ve expected when he arrived. For me, it’s such a good feeling to see his hard work and commitment pay off to become one of the best players in the world.”

On his impact at home: “He’s a role model to all Egyptians, because of everything he has done and everything he is doing. I have never seen a professional player like him; what he wants to achieve has no limits; he always wants more. He always wants to work harder. Even in situations such as if you are on vacation, he doesn’t stop working out, going to the gym, and even the food, he doesn’t eat unhealthy food; all of these details get him to where he is, in my opinion. His personality, how he treats everybody, his family, his friends, how humble he is. So for me, he’s a role model; he pushes everybody to become a better version of themselves. His impact back in Egypt is insane. He has a lot of fans, like 120 million. I believe all Egyptians love him, and obviously, his character as well. We have a lot of Liverpool supporters in Egypt.” 

On his legacy: “I want his legacy to be remembered at Liverpool as one of, maybe the best, in the club. In terms of numbers, in terms of everything he has achieved at Liverpool. Don’t forget about his lifestyle outside of football; he is not a player who causes problems. Sometimes, players in Europe don’t make it because of the lifestyle they have outside, Salah is an example on and off the pitch. I think he is up there with the best legends and icons in Liverpool.”

On his training regime: “His dedication is something else. I have never seen anything like it before, in my opinion, this level I think only Cristiano Ronaldo has that kind of commitment and dedication. He actually also changed my mentality on a lot of things. He changed a lot of footballers, how we could improve, how we could be better in everything, work harder, eat better. As I say, he’s a role model.”

Mo Salah was EXCELLENT against Fulham!

On the decision to leave: “I think it’s his decision. What has happened to him this season is unfair. I’m a footballer as well, and I understand sometimes the decision of a coach, but I think if you have been so good for eight, nine years and just a little drop happens of not scoring, I don’t think the coach was right to put him outside in this way. I think he could have warned him. You need to be better, need to improve, but I think the way it happened was very unprofessional, very unfair to a special player at the club and a player who has given a lot of things so for me I took it as disrespect if you leave the best player out and he doesn’t come in for two or three games in a row. There is no comparison between Mo and me, but I would be angry and frustrated if I understood the decision.”

On where next: “Obviously everybody wants to sign him, so I think I just support him and his decision, I wish him all the best. If he joins the Saudi Pro League, I think it’ll be very good because the league it becoming better every day and improving always after Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, and other big players came here, the league is improving a lot, I can see that. It’s fantastic to play in this league, it’s such an honour, so I hope he comes and I’m sure the stadiums will be more full of Egyptians because there are a lot of Egyptian people who live in Saudi.  But as I said, I don’t know if he’s going to the Saudi Pro League pr another league, but I’m sure he has a lot of offers from everywhere, and it’s up to him to decide. We just wish him luck and all the best in his career and whatever is coming next.”