Former Man United striker, Wayne Rooney, has said age is beginning to affect Mohamed Salah, as the Liverpool forward prepares to leave the club at the end of the season.
Rooney, speaking on his podcast, reflected on the challenge players face in recognising when their performance levels begin to decline.
“The hardest thing for a player is to understand you may not be at the level you were,” Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show.
Rooney drew from his experience at Manchester United, where he spent 13 years and became the club’s record scorer.
After the arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Rooney found his playing time reduced and chose to return to Everton in 2017.
“I did it at Manchester United when Zlatan Ibrahimovic came in, and I wasn’t playing. I wanted to play so I left straight away. I accepted it.”
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Salah is expected to leave Liverpool after nine years at the club.
The 33-year-old has been central to the team’s success, winning major domestic and European titles during his time at Anfield.
This season, however, his output has dropped. He is set to play fewer than 30 league matches and is yet to reach double figures in goals.
“I said this since the start of the season, age gets to us all, and your legs go,” Rooney added.
“I think that’s happened to Salah this season, and Virgil van Dijk hasn’t been the same this season. They are the leaders in the dressing room. It’s hard for the other players to go and leave their mark or become the leaders.
“I don’t think he [Van Dijk] will [leave], but you’ve seen players when they’ve stayed there for too long.”
Salah and Virgil van Dijk were key figures under Jurgen Klopp, who led Liverpool to major honours, including the Premier League and Champions League.
Rooney said Klopp’s presence played a major role in the team’s success and influence within the club.
“Klopp was the only Liverpool manager I’ve looked at and would’ve loved to play for him – not for Liverpool, obviously,” Rooney added.
“I said about Arne Slot that he doesn’t have the aura that Klopp has.
“What Klopp brought, even when he’s walking around a restaurant with a bottle of beer, that’s what the people of Liverpool like.”
(BBC)
