Chelsea have made more than a few transfer blunders over the years but most pale in comparison than that which sent Mohamed Salah to Roma. Initially a loan, the move included an option to buy the winger permanently, and the club eventually took the Blues up on that option.
He impressed over in Italy, and the rest is history. He is, of course, now at Liverpool – and he’s playing a key role for the Reds who are in hot pursuit of the Premier League title ahead of Chelsea. Last season he enjoyed a remarkable run that transformed Liverpool’s season, and he’s continuing to impress this term.
It’s clear now, then, that Salah is another name on a very long list of players that Chelsea gave up on too soon. He moved to the club from Basel, but after making a minimal impact during a minimal number of opportunities, he was quickly shipped out.
Significantly, former Chelsea manager – the boss at the time, when he was sold – Jose Mourinho has been discussing Salah’s exit, and he’s had something rather interesting to say on the matter. Speaking with beIN Sports, he’s revealed that he didn’t want Salah to leave, and that he wanted the player – that he had pushed to sign – to remain at the club.
"Lots of things have been told that are not true!"
Mourinho rubbishes media reports that he sold Mo Salah when at Chelsea.#beINMourinho #beINAFC #AsianCup2019 pic.twitter.com/8DsrPadA8U
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) January 17, 2019
The Blues, however, clearly went above his head, and the Portuguese is clearly unhappy about that to this day.
So, given Mourinho’s apparent eagerness to hold onto him, it’s worth looking at what Chelsea supporters thought at the time of his departure. Chelsea, as they always do, shared the news of the players’ departure on Twitter, and though Salah wasn’t the world-renowned star that he is today back then, the decision raised more than a few eyebrows. Indeed, it’s fair to say that most Chelsea fans were furious – and you can see many of their responses below:
You’d expect that most Chelsea fans will be even more frustrated by the decision now, given how good Salah has been as of late. Losing Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku for relatively small sums of money must hurt fans, but Salah? He’s now perhaps the best winger in the Premier League – and Chelsea let him go.
@chelseafc we are the new Arsensl [Selling Club]
— Ayden (@AddictedToCFC) August 6, 2015
@ChelseaFC having Cuadrado makes me think sending Salah on loan is a bad idea. He’s clearly better than Cuadrado.. smh
— kay (@wannyfelix) August 6, 2015
@ChelseaFC is salah not better than cuadrado?
— Ademola{Ç♡DƐDŦĤĪИƓ♡) (@BOYXE) August 6, 2015
@ChelseaFC might as well sell him because he played quality for Fiorentina
— Max Hindle (@MaxHindle96) August 6, 2015
@ChelseaFC @ESPNFC Why did they sell him, Joke
— Balaraj A.R (@ArBalaraj) August 6, 2015
@ChelseaFC may be it also a blunders again
— Bodh Sundar Subash (@subashkhatiwada) August 6, 2015
@ChelseaFC @ESPNFC what a shame. The boy is a very good player. Better than cuadrado. I am a blue. All the best to salah and Chelsea.
— Yeheshua Mohammed (@yeheshua) August 6, 2015
@ChelseaFC that is a very poor deal, to purchase at any point? Mark my word” if chelsea eventually loss this guy,there will leave to regrate
— Charles Anezi (@AneziCharles) August 6, 2015
@ChelseaFC I am not happy with team management Caz he is imp player for blue
— Bodh Sundar Subash (@subashkhatiwada) August 6, 2015
What do you think?
