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Mo Salah came close to joining Barcelona in 2022(Image: Getty Images)

Mohamed Salah exit sagas aren't exactly rare anymore, but in 2022, one particularly tense contract cliffhanger was quietly bubbling beneath the surface.

But Barcelona's interest forced a sudden rethink, and he slammed on the brakes.

It came at a delicate moment: Liverpool and Salah had been locked in contract talks for over a year, and his decision to pause negotiations in light of Barcelona's offer sent a clear, and somewhat jarring, message: not only was he willing to leave, he might actually welcome it.



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Liverpool held their breath, knowing that losing their star man would come as a monumental blow - particularly on a free transfer.

After all, Salah had fully etched his name into the club's history books, having fired them to their first Premier League title in 30 years, as well to Champions League glory - and bagged over 150 goals along the way.

Barcelona wanted Mo Salah to replace Lionel Messi, who'd be forced out of the club the year before(Image: Getty Images)

But his contract demands were steep.

The Reds, wary of their wage structure, were reluctant to fold.

Ultimately, though, the saga lasted only a few more weeks before Salah put an end to the speculation, signing a new three-year contract worth an eye-watering £350,000 per week.

Whether Barcelona's interest jolted Liverpool into action, or whether the Spanish club's ambitions were always destined to dissolve under the weight of their finances concerns, we'll never know.

What's clear is that their seductive pitch never became more than that - a dream dressed in prestige but draped in impracticality.

What remains is a tantalising 'what if.' A momentary flirtation that never blossomed into anything more.

In both 2022 and 2025, Salah ended speculation about his future by extending his Liverpool contract(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

There's a fine line between loyalty and fickleness in football - a line Salah has danced along more than once.

He's listened to offers, entertained possibilities, and let speculation swirl - most notably, spending much of the 2024/25 season in limbo amid another tense contract standoff and an uber-lucrative offer from the Saudi Pro League.

But the bottom line is he's always stayed put.