No, Klopp Did Not Say Mo Salah to Return to Liverpool After Playing in Three Matches in Afcon 2021
The Claim
Klopp: Mo Salah will not be away for long; he will participate in three matches and come back [to Liverpool Club].
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Emerging story
Twitter accounts have recently shared a statement attributed to Liverpool F.C. manager Jürgen Klopp. The alleged statement claims that Sadio Mané and Naby Keïta will be absent from the next matches for the team because they are taking part in the Afcon 2021.
The claim adds that a journalist had asked, what about Mo Salah, who also plays in the same league but for Egypt’s national team? Klopp allegedly responded that “Salah won’t be absent for long; he’s only playing in three matches and coming back.” The alleged response is meant to convey that Egypt’s national team will be excluded from the group stage in the Afcon 2021.
Description: The screenshot shows the claim recently circulating on Twitter.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar’s team investigated the claim and found it fake. The statement attributed to the Liverpool F.C. manager is made up; it has no truth to it. The official website of the English football Club did not publish the alleged statement, nor did any credible media outlet.
The last statement by Klopp that involved Mo Salah was on Jan. 12, when he replied to whether Mo Salah’s contract with Liverpool F.C. would be renewed. Klopp said that he knows Mo would want to stay and that he’s very optimistic about him staying in the team, but that he can’t speak on behalf of the Club’s audience. The Club’s manager still thinks there are enough reasons to remain positive. However, as long as that didn’t happen yet, then nothing can be said for certain.
The statement came after an interview GQ magazine had with Mo Salah, in which he said that he would like to gain his team’s appreciation. He also said that it’s not up to him whether he can stay in the team and that it’s all in the hands of the Club.
Mohamed Salah is currently taking part in the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon as part of Egypt’s national team. Egypt lost its first match in the group stage against Nigeria, while the next match took place on Saturday, Jan. 15, against Guinea-Bissau.
Translated by Ahmed N. A. Almassri
