The door to Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah joining the Saudi Pro League is not closed, says SPL director of football Michael Emenalo.
Al-Ittihad had a £150 million offer for the 31-year-old rejected last week, with the Reds insisting he was not for sale.
A move for Salah did not materialize before the SPL transfer window closed on September 7.
“First and foremost, Mohamed Salah is one of the best players on the planet,” Emenalo told Sky Sports.
The bid for Salah, who signed a new three-year contract with Liverpool last summer, was in excess of £100m, with add-ons taking it up to £150m.
Emenalo added: “I’ve said before, privately and publicly, that we welcome anybody that wants to come [to the SPL], and that includes Salah. But we have to do things in a very professional and respectful manner. That’s what we’re there for; it’s what the SPL has been refined to do—to bring professionalism, respect for efficiencies, and to do things in a competent way.”
The Al-Ittihad offer came just before the English transfer window closed on September 1 and gave Liverpool little time to bring in a replacement.
Nevertheless, the Reds and manager Jurgen Klopp maintained Mo would be staying at the club.
“You can’t imagine how much fuss the world has made but how calm we are with it,” said Klopp after his side beat Aston Villa on September 3. “He is our player and wants to play here.”
Salah scored against Villa to take his tally for Liverpool to 188 goals in 309 games.
“If it didn’t happen, it’s not because we no longer fancy the player or because we have a problem with Liverpool,” added Emenalo.
“It’s because certain things that needed to align for all the parties involved in the process didn’t align.
“Nobody is angry; we move on, but we absolutely close no doors, and if the opportunity is there to do things and do them well and it brings Mohamed Salah to the Saudi Pro League, we will all be very grateful.”
