KNOWN as one of the deadliest attackers in world football, and a major part of Liverpool’s record-breaking stampede towards a historic league title, Mohamed Salah is well respected by everyone in the game.
But it’s fair to say that wasn’t always the case.
The Egyptian arrived at Anfield from Roma in 2017 for what now appears a bargain £34.3million.
A lot of Twitter users, however, will be embarrassed with their hot takes on the deal when it was announced.
Salah had just scored 15 goals and assisted a further 13 in Serie A the season before, but fans of opposition clubs thought that the Reds had just signed a Chelsea flop for what felt like big money at the time.
One laughed: “Liverpool sign a player who had to move to Italy because he couldn’t cut it in the Premier League”.
While a Tottenham fan chimed in: “Liverpool have signed their very own Sissoko”.
Another asked: “Is this the same Salah who had the worst ever shot of all time against my might Shrews if it is then good luck Klopp”.
Even a Liverpool fan was sceptical, writing: “As usual @ LFC pay over the odds. Good player, but not that good”.
But the worst insult of all came from an Arsenal fan, who called Salah a “btec theo walcott”.
Two-and-half years on Salah, a Champions League winner with the Reds, is on the cusp of Anfield immortality.
His astonishing debut season saw him scoop the PFA Player of the Year award and Golden Boot, as he netted 32 goals in 36 Premier League games.
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And now having scored 85 goals and assisted a further 37 in a Reds jersey, Salah is part of arguably the most feared attacking triumvirate in world football.
Salah also brought home the much coveted Puskas Award in 2018 for his Merseyside derby strike against Everton, and won African Player of the Year in the same year.
Not a bad effort, for a “btec theo walcott”…