Slot Breaks Silence: I Never Boycotted Salah — The Real Salah-Slot Saga
10 December 2025
Context
The Dutch manager Arne Slot of Liverpool addressed the ongoing Mohamed Salah controversy, denying that he planned to boycott the Egyptian star after recent remarks.
Slot referenced posts circulating on Fabrizio Romano's X account about mistakes and who should initiate dialogue, noting that players themselves may reflect on errors.
Benching and AFCON
He then asked whether the initiative to talk should come from him or from Salah. He stressed that he never claimed he would never speak to Salah again.
This response came after reports that Slot excluded Salah from the squad for the Champions League clash with Inter Milan.
Slot had kept Salah on the bench in the last three Premier League matches, with no minutes against West Ham and Leeds and only a late appearance versus Sunderland.
Salah is expected to join the Egypt national team immediately after the Brighton game to take part in the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco this month.
Salah had drawn global attention after the Leeds draw, with the Egyptian star sitting on the bench and making forceful remarks about his coach and his future at the club.
The former Roma star said he had given a lot to the club over the years, especially last season, and now sits on the bench without understanding why.
He added that it seems the club has abandoned him, suggesting someone wanted him to bear all the blame and that summer promises were not fulfilled, leaving him on the bench for three games.
He stressed that his relationship with Slot was previously good, but it suddenly deteriorated, and he suspects someone does not want him at the club.
The piece ends with Liverpool fans awaiting clarification as this evolving drama continues.
Punchline: In this saga the bench has more lines than a season finale; Salah might get a standing ovation for simply sitting down.
Punchline: If talks were goals, Slot would lead the scoring charts while Salah would be busy earning assists from the bench.
