image via - @LFC/ X

‘There Was Tension with Sadio’ – Mohamed Salah Opens Up About Mane and Liverpool Days

Salah Reflects on Professional Rivalry and Respect with Mane at Liverpoo

image via - @LFC/ X

Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane could easily be argued to be one of the best wing duos for Liverpool. However, according to the Egyptian’s recent comments, things were not ideal on the pitch between the star players.

Referring to the team’s success despite the facts, Salah insisted on having respect for each other amid the quarrel. Being a part of the squad which led Liverpool to their first Premier League and Champions League title, the doubts on the success of the duo would hardly be discussed.

Mo Salah to @ballondor on his relationship with Sadio Mane:"I scored a lot (44 goals in my first season), and then Sadio told himself it was his turn to score more too.

Yes, there was tension with Sadio. But look, we remained professional until the end, and I don't think it… pic.twitter.com/e9khwojE28
— Ismael Mahmoud – إسماعيل محمود (@ismaeelmahmoudd) May 10, 2025

Salah Reflects on Professionalism Amid Tension with Mane

Scoring over 150 goals among each other, Liverpool arguably played their best decade of football with Salah and Mane on the flanks. Talking about professionalism despite the friction, Salah, in his interview with L’Equipe, said:

“Yes, there was tension with Sadio. Mind you, we were professional until the end; I don’t think it affected the team. It’s human to want more, I understand that; he’s a competitor. Off the pitch, we weren’t very close, but we always respected each other.”

The Egyptian also talked about cutting out people’s opinions upon admitting the rivalry. Keeping it out of the game and providing Mane with most assists, Salah in his interview continued,

“People can think what they want, it’s their right. But I invite everyone to note that the one who gave the most assists to Mané was me (18). We can look at the facts, but it’s easier to swing sentences like that, it makes the headlines, I know how it works.”

Having a few rivalry-driven uneases in the top tiers of football could be a professional disagreement. While Mane has moved away to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, the respect among the elites remains.

ALSO READ: Liverpool Target €40M Bundesliga Right-Back to Replace Trent Alexander-Arnold in 2025

Salah has scored 244 goals for Liverpool, making him the third on the all-time list as per Transfermarkt. The 32-year-old will chase Roger Hunt to secure the second all-time scorer of Liverpool, being 35 goals behind.

With the contract extended and given the form Pharaoh is in, fans will have an eye on the record not broken since 1972. The Egyptian could also turn the tide around in the Club World Cup as he is also listed among the favourites of the Ballon d’Or 2025 list.

Liverpool

Mohamed Salah

Mayur Dedwal

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I’m a Sports Content Writer with expertise in football. Being a decade old football enthusiast and part-time coach, I try to bring to life to the articles in a statistical manner. Being around all kinds of sports updates and able to put in my perspective’s to the happenings in the world of football are few of the many things i like in doing what i do. You can find me playing Sunday leagues or Xbox on weekends!