Speaking on the Blood Red Podcast, Jamie Carragher has warned Mohamed Salah about a potential move to Spain, using Michael Owen as an example of why a move to La Liga may not work out.
Salah is entering the final year of his contract, and, as you can imagine, there has been plenty of speculation about his future.
A player this talented is always going to be linked with Barcelona and Real Madrid, and Salah himself has even admitted that he’d like to play in Spain.
However, according to Carragher, Salah wouldn’t suit the Spanish game, stating that, much like Michael Owen, his game is too direct for that league and he wouldn’t be appreciated over there.
What’s been said?
Carragher warned Salah about a move to La Liga.
“He suits Liverpool and he suits Klopp. They’re fast and furious. I don’t think he’s a player for a Barcelona or a Real Madrid. That’s not to say he’s not good enough, but I don’t think he’s their type of player, I really don’t.
“I’ll tell you why, Michael Owen went to Madrid and he wasn’t at the level Mo is as right now and he certainly wasn’t in his prime. He scored a lot of goals, I think he got close to 20 goals as a bit-part player, but people over there just had no time for him.
“They’d say ‘all he does is score’ and that was Michael Owen. I know Mo gets a lot of assists, but his game his all about goals and being direct and making runs behind, not getting on the ball.
“When Diaz is on the ball you’re confident he’ll keep the ball, but you’re not like that with Salah or Mane because they’re so direct, they’re running through brick walls to get a goal. He’s scored some great dribbles Mo, but you never know what’s going to happen.
“I don’t think he’s their type of silky, slower player, I think he suits the Premier League and the way we play, I think it would be a mistake for him to leave, I really do.”
Evolved
Carragher’s point about Spanish football is a valid one, but we can’t help but feel as though his opinion is a bit dated.
Owen joined La Liga in 2004, and back then, the Spanish game was slower. Playmakers such as Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Guti, Ruben Baraja and Xavi were the lynchpins of the Spanish game back then, but now, La Liga has evolved to catch up with the rest of Europe.
These days, direct players can thrive in Spain. Vinicius Jr, Ansu Fati, Adama Traore and Joao Felix have proven that this season, while Gareth Bale was one of La Liga’s best players during his pomp, and he’s one of the most direct players we’ve ever seen.
Salah wouldn’t have been appreciated in La Liga in the 2000s, but now, in 2022, he’d be an absolute star over in Spain.
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