The Telegraph UK: Egyptian forward announces departure three months after bombshell interview in which he turned on Arne Slot and the club

Mohamed Salah will leave Liverpool at the end of the season.

His departure has been confirmed three months after his bombshell interview in which he turned on Arne Slot and the club.

Salah, Liverpool’s greatest goalscorer in the Premier League era, has one year left on his contract at Anfield.

But the 33-year-old will leave the club on a free transfer at the end of this campaign after they “reached an agreement” on his future. 

He revealed his departure in a video he posted on his social media channels immediately after an agreement was struck “to provide transparency”.

“I will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season,” Salah said. “We celebrated victory, we won the most important trophies and we fought together through the hardest time in our life.

“Leaving is never easy. You [the fans] gave me the best time of my life. I will be always one of you. This club will always be my home, to me and to my family. Thank you for everything. Because of all of you, I will never walk alone.”

Liverpool’s statement read: “Salah expressed his wish to make this announcement to the supporters at the earliest possible opportunity to provide transparency about his future due to his respect and gratitude for them.

“With plenty still left to play for this season, Salah is firmly focused on trying to achieve the best possible finish to the campaign for Liverpool and, therefore, the time to fully celebrate his legacy and achievements will follow later in the year when he bids farewell to Anfield.’

The Saudi Pro League has confirmed interest in bringing Salah to the Middle East, although the highest scoring Premier League player currently playing in the competition will effectively be available as a free transfer to any club.

Salah’s agent Ramy Abass confirmed on Tuesday evening that there was no deal in place for Salah after he leaves Liverpool. “We do not know where Mohamed will play next season,” he said. “This also means no one else knows.”  

Salah opened the door to leaving after nine years on Merseyside after his stunning Elland Road interview in December. Salah accused the club of “throwing me under the bus” and revealed his relationship with Slot, Liverpool’s head coach, had completely broken down.

Slot had dropped Salah from his starting line-up at the time and the row opened the door for a departure. While Salah did not leave during the January transfer window, he will play his final game for Liverpool six months after his outburst at Leeds.

“I could not believe I was sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,” he said after he had been an unused substitute. “That’s the third time. It’s the first time in my career I think.

“Someone wants me to get all the blame. The club promised me a lot in summer. Now I’m on bench so I can say they haven’t kept those promises.

“I used to have a good relationship [with manager Slot]. Now we don’t have any relationship and I don’t know why. It seems like someone does not want me in the club.”

After returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt, Salah has been back in Slot’s team and has helped them reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

It is almost a year since he signed a new two-year deal with Liverpool, with his future in doubt until a new contract was agreed last season.

“I wanted to start by saying that I never imagined how deeply this club, this city, these people would become part of my life,” Salah added in his farewell message. “Liverpool is not just a football club. It’s a passion, it’s a history, it’s a spirit. I can’t explain in words to anyone not of this club.

“I want to thank everyone who was part of this club throughout my time here, especially the team-mates past and present. And to the fans, I don’t have enough words.

“The support you showed me through the best time of my career, and you stood by me in the toughest times. It’s something I will never forget and something I will take with me always.”

Salah has won two Premier League titles and the Champions League since joining Liverpool from Roma in 2017, along with an FA Cup, League Cup, Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup.

He has won the Premier League golden boot (for top scorer) four times and been voted players’ player of the year three times.

He is Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer with 255 goals in 435 appearances.