Saudi Pro League club owner Ben Harburg’s blunt assessment of Mohamed Salah has triggered fresh turmoil around the Liverpool star’s future, marking one of the strongest public rebukes yet from within a league aggressively pursuing global football icons. The comments, made as Saudi clubs continue to circle Salah for a potential mega-money transfer, now cast a long shadow over the Egyptian’s reputation at a delicate point in his career.
A Rare Public Rejection That Hits Mohamed Salah’s Global Standing
For months, the Saudi Pro League has openly courted Salah, viewing him as both a commercial magnet and a regional symbol capable of elevating the league’s global relevance. But Harburg, owner of Al Kholood, cut sharply against that narrative. In unusually direct remarks, he questioned Salah’s recent form, commitment, and suitability for Saudi football.
Harburg argued that Salah — at 33, approaching the final phase of his career — would not offer the league the long-term value it seeks. Instead, he advocated for signing younger stars such as Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr., insisting that the future of the league lies in attracting “25-year-old next wave players.”
The pointed critique immediately sent ripples across football circles, not merely because it dismissed a player of Salah’s stature, but because it came from within the very league that has been long positioned as his likely next destination. In public relations terms, such a blunt rejection from a league stakeholder carries weight — and it strikes at the heart of Salah’s standing as a global superstar still viewed as elite.
The sting was intensified by Harburg’s suggestion that Salah is “not a great team player,” an accusation seldom thrown at a footballer widely celebrated for professionalism and influence on and off the pitch. For a player who has built his legacy on being Liverpool’s talisman and dressing-room pillar, that perception shift could be damaging.
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Salah’s Ongoing Turbulence at Liverpool Adds Fuel to the Fire
The timing could hardly be worse. Salah’s recent comments hinting that Liverpool and manager Arne Slot were “throwing him under the bus” already raised eyebrows across the football world, painting a picture of strained internal dynamics at Anfield.
His omission from Liverpool’s Champions League squad against Inter Milan — followed by expectations that he will miss the Brighton fixture as well — has deepened speculation that he is entering a turbulent phase of his Liverpool career. The situation comes just as he prepares to leave for international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, further complicating his immediate future at the club.
Against that backdrop, Harburg’s remarks do more than merely question Salah’s fit for Saudi Arabia. They contribute to a growing narrative suggesting the Egyptian’s aura of untouchability may be fading. For a player who has long been regarded as one of the most disciplined and dependable stars of his generation, public comments questioning his professionalism and performance level represent a notable reputational setback.
What makes the situation more jarring is that Saudi clubs have historically positioned themselves as eager bidders for Salah — not critics. If even a single influential club figure is willing to publicly state that Salah’s signing would be a “toxic combination of factors,” the carefully built image of the Saudi Pro League as his natural next step now faces an unexpected crack.
A Blow That Could Shape His Future Beyond Liverpool
Beyond Liverpool and Saudi Arabia, Salah’s market value and perception among top European sides could also be impacted. Footballers approaching their mid-30s rely heavily on reputation to secure final big contracts or dream moves. When a high-profile club owner publicly questions form, attitude, and suitability, it can influence market sentiment.
For Salah, who remains one of the Premier League’s most iconic figures, such criticism could alter how clubs assess the risk and reward of signing him. Even if Saudi clubs continue to pursue him, the narrative surrounding that potential move now has an undertone of caution rather than excitement.
The long-term implications remain uncertain, but one thing is clear: Harburg’s remarks have introduced an unexpected and uncomfortable lens through which Salah’s current struggles — both at Liverpool and in the transfer market — are now being viewed.
As Salah prepares to join Egypt for AFCON, the coming weeks may determine whether this public dent in his reputation becomes a passing controversy or a defining moment in the final chapter of his illustrious career.
