Former Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino has spoken out about Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane’s internal cold war. It was the “worst-kept secret in Liverpool,” according to the Brazilian. Firmino was a teammate of Salah and Mane at Anfield, where they won the Champions League and Premier League together. Firmino describes the animosity amongst teammates at Anfield in his new book ‘Si Senor: My Liverpool Years.’
“I knew those guys very well, maybe better than anyone. It was me out there on the field, right in the middle of them. I saw first-hand the looks, the grimaces, the body language, the dissatisfaction when one was mad at the other. “ Firmino wrote.
“I was the link between them in our attacking play and the firefighter in those moments. For many, that disagreement [against Burnley] between Sadio and Mo was the first; for some, the first and last. But I knew it had been brewing since the previous season, 2018-19. My instinct and my duty was to defuse the situation between them. Pour water on the fire – never petrol.” Firmino added.
The Brazilian international had eight wonderful years at Anfield before joining Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia in 2023. While the trio comprised one of the most lethal attacks in the world, they did not always agree.In one instance in 2019, Mane was spotted angry on the bench after Mohamed Salah didn’t send the ball to him for a straightforward tap-in.
“They were never best friends; each kept himself to himself. It was rare to see the two of them talking and I’m not sure if that had to do with the Egypt-Senegal rivalry in African competitions. I truly don’t know. But they also never stopped talking, never severed ties. ” he added.
“They always acted with the utmost professionalism. I never took sides. That’s why they love me: I always passed the ball to both; my preference was for the team’s victory.” Firmino concluded.
Sadio Mane was the first of a formidable trio to leave Liverpool, joining Bayern Munich in 2022. A year later, Mane joined Al-Nassr with Cristiano Ronaldo. Firmino has also joined Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League.
Salah might be on his way in 2024, according to some predictions. According to reports in Europe, clubs in Saudi Arabia are queuing up bids for the Egyptian superstar for more than £200 million ($245 million).
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