Michael Emenalo, the Director of Football for the Saudi Pro League, believes that Mohamed Salah has resisted the temptation to join the lucrative competition due to “unfinished business” at Liverpool.
However, he did not dismiss the possibility of a move for the forward next summer.
The Reds rejected a £150 million offer from Al-Ittihad last year for Salah, who chose to stay at Anfield for the current season.
The 32-year-old is set to become a free agent at the end of this campaign, and despite his desire to extend his contract, negotiations with the club have not reached a resolution.
This situation has reignited speculation about a potential bid from a Saudi Pro League club next summer, especially as Mohamed Salah will be eligible to enter talks with foreign clubs starting in January.
Emenalo, who previously worked with Mohamed Salah as the technical director at Chelsea, has been questioned about the likelihood of the forward making a move to the Middle East.
“I think it depends on Mo,” said Emenalo.
“The stories that our teams went after him were true, it is true that there was an interest.
“But just like Victor Osimhen, it’s okay for me to have an interest in signing Mo, but the club have to have an interest in letting him go, and if those things don’t align, you don’t have a deal.
“Fundamentally, Liverpool didn’t want to sell and what price were we willing to buy at?
“We don’t want to buy at a ridiculous amount.
“The most important part is if the player is ready to come.
“I didn’t feel the player was ready to come because he felt like he had unfinished business.
“Very few players do it, but you have to leave the club in the right way.
“When you are at that level and you have done things, it’s important to leave the club in the right way.”
Emenalo added: “Being one of my ‘boys’, I was never going to put any pressure on him, I didn’t even speak to him during that period. I don’t manage any of the (Saudi) clubs, but if the clubs decide they are interested, he is a top player.
“Same with Kevin De Bruyne.
“But Mo Salah is the decision maker.
“The player ultimately decides ‘I’m ready to go’ or ‘I’m not ready to go’.
“Maybe he finds himself in a situation where he’s never going to push to evacuate his contract just so he can go and play somewhere else. “
In recent years, former Liverpool players Gini Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane have all made moves to Saudi Arabia.
Additionally, Steven Gerrard is currently managing Al Ettifaq.
Last summer, ex-Reds captain Jordan Henderson joined Gerrard at the club but left after just six months to return to Europe, signing with Dutch side Ajax.
Emenalo has expressed no concerns regarding Henderson’s departure.
“The Jordan Henderson experience, contrary to the negative connotation attached to it, is actually a good thing because it emphasises what we kept saying which is nobody is going to be forced to stay,” he said.
“It’s not a trap.
“We signed 97 players and one didn’t settle.
“The second point on a personal level is that Jordan was one of the most loved people here.
“He was an absolute professional, a wonderful guy.
“He helped change some of the professional hindrances that were happening at his club and other clubs, and he stepped us as you should.”
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