Ibrahim Hassan warned Mohamed Salah against joining Major League Soccer, arguing a move to the U.S. would remove the Liverpool icon from the global spotlight and harm his legacy. Hassan said he’d prefer Salah remain in Europe or, failing that, consider the Saudi Pro League, where high-profile names keep the stage bright.
Hassan discourages MLS move for Salah, urges Europe or Saudi alternative
Ibrahim Hassan, director of Egypt’s national team, publicly urged Mohamed Salah to avoid a switch to Major League Soccer after the forward confirmed his departure from Liverpool following nine trophy-laden seasons at Anfield. Hassan argued that MLS would diminish Salah’s global visibility and suggested that offers from top European clubs or a move to the Saudi Pro League would better preserve his standing.
Why Hassan believes MLS would dim Salah’s spotlight
Hassan’s central point is visibility. For a player who has defined an era at Liverpool and starred across the Premier League and Champions League, moving to MLS could reduce regular exposure in elite European competition and the highest-profile matchups. That matters for legacy, endorsement value and the competitive benchmarks fans and pundits use to measure all-time greats.
Messi’s MLS impact complicates Hassan’s claim
Hassan contrasted Salah’s potential MLS future with Lionel Messi’s position in the U.S., noting he doesn’t follow Messi closely — a pointed remark given Messi’s seismic effect on MLS since joining Inter Miami. Messi has driven attendance, viewership and a wave of star arrivals, proving MLS can amplify a headline signing when paired with the right narrative and infrastructure, like Inter Miami’s Nu Stadium tribute. The lesson: MLS can elevate certain arrivals, but that success is uneven and often player-specific.
Realistic destinations: Europe, Saudi Arabia, or elsewhere?
European heavyweights such as Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Serie A clubs have been mentioned as logical fits if Salah seeks to remain at the highest competitive level. Alternatively, the Saudi Pro League presents a financially compelling option and an increasingly star-studded environment where Cristiano Ronaldo and other marquee names keep global attention on the competition. Each path carries trade-offs between competitiveness, legacy and financial reward.
What this means for Salah, Liverpool and Egypt
For Salah, the choice will shape the final chapter of a career that includes Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy. Staying in Europe preserves the chance to compete in the Champions League and maintain comparison with Europe’s elite. A move to Saudi could maximize earnings while keeping him in a high-profile, albeit different, spotlight. Choosing MLS would signal a shift toward expanding his brand in North America but might alter how future generations evaluate his peak years.
For Liverpool, Salah’s departure forces a tactical and commercial recalibration; replacing his goals, creativity and leadership will be a priority. For Egypt, Salah’s club decision affects national-team preparation ahead of the 2026 World Cup, where he is expected to be the focal point of the attack.
Analysis: weighing legacy versus new markets
Hassan’s stance reads as protectionist but pragmatic: he prioritizes competitive parity and legacy preservation. That’s defensible for a national-team director with World Cup ambitions in mind. Yet the Messi case shows MLS isn’t inherently a career-killer — it can be transformational for the league and the player when circumstances align. For Salah, the calculus will hinge on offers’ competitive merits, Champions League access, contract length and personal priorities beyond football.
Next moves and what to watch
Watch for substantive offers from top European clubs, concrete bids from Saudi teams, or MLS franchises following up with value propositions that include competitive and commercial incentives. Salah’s timeline, intent on international duty, and Liverpool’s transfer strategy will all accelerate decisions. Ultimately, this is a career-defining crossroad: prioritize peak-competition legacy or choose a new stage that trades some sporting prestige for different rewards.
Bottom line
Hassan’s public preference for Europe — with Saudi as a secondary option — frames Salah’s next step as more than a transfer: it’s a legacy decision.
Mohamed Salah warned by Egypt team director that MLS move would diminish spotlight
MLS can deliver fame and new audiences, but Hassan’s warning underscores the traditional expectation that elite players preserve their place in Europe’s top competitions to keep their standing among the game’s greats.
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