Ibrahima Konaté has weighed in on the growing debate surrounding Mohamed Salah’s future at Liverpool after being questioned about whether the Egyptian star may have already played his final game for the club.
Speaking to French broadcaster Canal+ after Liverpool’s victory over Brighton on Saturday, the Reds centre-back was asked directly about Salah’s situation — particularly following the forward’s emotional acknowledgement of the Anfield crowd at full-time.
The question comes amid weeks of speculation sparked by Salah’s explosive interview on December 6, in which he suggested the Brighton clash could potentially mark his last appearance for Liverpool, with the Africa Cup of Nations looming.
At 33, Salah’s future has dominated headlines after he claimed he had been “thrown under the bus” during a turbulent opening to the 2025–26 campaign. He also hinted at tension in his relationship with head coach Arne Slot, fuelling further uncertainty.
Those issues appeared to surface after Liverpool’s 2–2 draw with Leeds United, when Salah was subsequently left out of the squad for the midweek Champions League win over Inter Milan. However, discussions between player and manager on Friday cleared the air, allowing Salah to return to the matchday squad against Brighton.
Starting on the bench, the winger was introduced early in the contest after Joe Gomez was forced off through injury. Salah made an immediate impact, setting up Hugo Ekitike in the second half as Liverpool secured a 2–0 win. That assist also took him past Wayne Rooney, making him the player with the most goal involvements for a single club in Premier League history, reaching 277.
After the final whistle, Salah cut a relaxed figure as he applauded the Kop, with supporters responding by chanting his iconic song — a moment that only added to the intrigue around his future.
Despite the lingering questions ahead of the January transfer window, Konaté played down the idea of an imminent farewell.
“Honestly, no, I don’t think that was his last game,” Konaté said. “You can see how much this club means to him. People need to understand the frustration a player can feel after everything he has achieved and given.”
He continued: “He’s loved by everyone — the coach loves him, he loves the coach. At this club, there is a lot of love between everyone.”
Should Salah eventually decide to leave, interest would be unavoidable. Saudi Pro League chief executive Omar Mugharbel recently confirmed that several clubs in the league are monitoring the situation.
“Muhammad Salah would be welcome in Saudi Arabia, but negotiations are done club to club,” Mugharbel said at the World Football Summit. “He is definitely one of the names being looked at.”
Reports suggest Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, Al Ahli and Al Qadsiah are all prepared to explore a move.
Arne Slot also addressed the situation after the Brighton win, making it clear he expects Salah to remain part of his plans following AFCON.
“Yes, he is a Liverpool player,” Slot said. “When he’s available, I want to use him when the team needs him. He didn’t start today, like in recent matches, but before that he was starting almost every game.”
The Liverpool boss added: “He nearly added another assist, almost scored when Federico Chiesa found him, and he was a constant threat — and that’s exactly what we want from him.”
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