Mohamed Salah's transfer dramas are becoming increasingly common, but in 2022, a particularly tense contract standoff was simmering away quietly.

This season, the Liverpool star has resisted the allure of Saudi Arabia - but three years ago, it was Barcelona that was calling his name.

The Catalan giants had offered the enticing prospect of a free transfer in 2023 when Salah's contract was due to end - and the Egyptian king was seriously contemplating it.



Lionel Messi had departed the previous summer, and Los Cules were desperate for a new attacking hero, with Ousmane Dembele failing to live up to expectations due to struggles with fitness and form.

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Salah wasn't actively looking to leave Liverpool and had even reassured close friends that a contract extension was just around the corner.

However, Barcelona's interest prompted a sudden change of heart, and he put the brakes on.

Liverpool and Salah had been embroiled in contract discussions for over a year, and his choice to halt talks due to Barcelona's offer sent a stark, somewhat unsettling message: he was not only open to leaving, but might even be keen on it.

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In the end, though, the saga only dragged on for a few more weeks before Salah put an end to the rumours, penning a new three-year contract worth a staggering $475,000 per week.

Whether Barcelona's interest spurred Liverpool into action, or whether the Spanish club's aspirations were always doomed to crumble under financial woes, we'll never know.



Mohamed Salah signs a new contract at Liverpool