Egyptian officials say the Liverpool star will disappear if he chooses MLS, as San Diego FC’s owner welcomes his compatriot.
Published March 30, 2026
Egypt national team coach Ibrahim Hassan has warned against Mohamed Salah moving to Major League Soccer (MLS) after he leaves Liverpool at the end of the season, as it would mean the player’s presence would fade.
Salah, 33, is yet to make a decision on his next move after a hugely successful nine years at Liverpool, during which he won two Premier League titles and the Champions League.
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MLS Commissioner Don Garber has said he would like to see Salah in the league, but it is unclear whether league teams will attempt to sign him.
“Personally, I hope he stays in Europe,” Hassan told On Sports. “I have heard about offers from Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and clubs in the Italian league.
“Moving to the major leagues? He’ll be too far out of the spotlight. You won’t remember Salah any more than I remember (Lionel) Messi now. I don’t even think to look at him.”
After racking up trophies with Barcelona and PSG, Argentina captain Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023, just months after the World Cup, where he became the club’s all-time top scorer.
Hassan said the Saudi Professional League would be a suitable option if Salah chooses not to remain in Europe.
“If he does not receive an offer from Europe, a move to the Saudi league would be a good option, especially for a big name like Cristiano (Ronaldo),” added Hassan, the twin brother of Egyptian manager Hossam Hassan.
But San Diego FC’s billionaire owner Mohamed Mansour believes the fellow Egyptian will be an “asset” as speculation grows over the Liverpool forward’s next club.
If he were to move to the United States, recent MLS expansion club San Diego FC, which reached the play-off semifinals in its debut season last year, have been heavily linked with Salah, especially thanks to Anglo-Egyptian owner Mansour.
“He’s probably one of the best players today, and he will definitely be an asset to any team that buys him or any country that buys him,” Mansour told AFP at the summit in Atlanta on Thursday.
Manager Mansour declined to say whether he is actively working on signing Salah or if he has approached the club about signing a striker before.
But he added: “Mo Salah is, of course, someone I am very proud of as an Egyptian, where I come from. He is one of the greatest players to reach the world stage.”
“And if he sets his mind to it, I’m sure he will…Wherever he goes, he’s definitely going to bring a lot to that league, that country and that team. So he’s someone I’m very proud of.”
Mansour said that every time Salah plays, the whole of Egypt stops, naming Salah his favorite soccer player of all time.
Mansour spoke passionately about Salah, but insisted that the decision to hire a soccer player is left to San Diego FC’s sporting director and coach.
“I asked the person in charge to decide,” he said.
Salah is currently sidelined due to injury and will miss Egypt’s ongoing training camp in the lead-up to the North American World Cup.
Egypt will face Spain in a friendly in Barcelona on Tuesday after defeating Saudi Arabia 4-0 in Jeddah on Friday.
The seven-time African champions are in Group G alongside Belgium, New Zealand and Iran for the World Cup, which will be held from June 11 to July 19.
