What Happened to Mohamed Salah's Chelsea Career?
Sold by FC Basel in the first month of 2014 for £11 million, Mohamed Salah was always a Jose Mourinho gamble. Better than the academy options at hand, after selling Kevin De Bruyne and Juan Mata, the west London side needed attacking midfielders and opted for the rapid Egyptian.
An issue arose, however: Salah was not better than Andre Schurrle or Willian.
Many questioned acquiring the then-21-year-old, but "In Jose we trust" echoed from Stamford Bridge terraces, and Chelsea supporters widely accepted the move—especially considering past European performances vs. the Blues.
TOP NEWS
Best Deals for EPL Spenders 🤑
New Mock Draft with the Heat Winning Lottery Simulation 🔮
Wemby Breaks Playoff Record 🤯
For the 2013/14 campaign's second half, the cup-tied winger was in and around Mourinho's first team.
Making doubters question themselves, Salah scored vs. Arsenal in the Blues' 6-0 drubbing of their London rivals. He also gave his best performance in 13 Premier League appearances vs. Stoke City: scoring, assisting and winning a spot-kick in Chelsea's 3-0 victory.
Into the 2014 summer transfer window, Salah's place in Mourinho's plan was secure but minimal.
Only featuring eight times from August 2014 through January 2015, the Egyptian international was loaned to Fiorentina for 18 months—per the Mirror's John Cross—conceivably to grease the £26.1 million Juan Cuadrado transfer.
Hence, after a winding road from Egypt to Switzerland to England and now, in some form, Italy—Salah appears at a crossroads. Unwilling to fulfil his 18-month contract with Fiorentina, who sacked manager Vincenzo Montella in June, the now-23-year-old's agent has been searching Europe (specifically the Italian Republic) for a new home.
Despite Viola's vehement protests, according to the Daily Mail's Simon Jones, Roma have agreed terms with Chelsea. Reportedly, the Blues will receive £1.4 million in loan fees, followed by a mandatory £16 million payment next summer—making Salah's move to the Italian capital permanent.
No self-respecting footballing enterprise would reject £17.4 million for a player on the outskirts of relevance, thus Chelsea's part in this interesting game of musical chairs is somewhat unblemished. Neither are Fiorentina besmirched. Salah, in 10 starts for the Tuscan club, directly contributed to nine goals, so they understandingly wish to keep the young footballer heading into 2015/16.
Furthermore, Roma are more than within their rights to strike a deal with Chelsea for next summer, as the reported Viola deal would expire.
What cannot be accepted, however, is the notion players can abandon deals they sign—as it sets a dangerous precedent.
Salah and his agent should have known in February the Fiorentina deal was 18 months in length, therefore ignoring the contract is entirely unprofessional. Chelsea and Roma must operate within new parameters, established by the Egyptian's defection, but their business should have been conducted wholly in 2016.
Perhaps this glimpse into Salah's makeup is why Mourinho is willing to let him leave Stamford Bridge. A £6.4 million profit simplifies the equation, but is a player who bucks the system and creates his own rules a footballer the Portuguese manager wants to work with? Probably not.
Additionally, Victor Moses' resurgence and emerging 19-year-olds Kenedy and Bertrand Traore make Mourinho's Salah verdict even easier.
Speaking of verdicts: ESPN FC's Ben Gladwell reported this particular episode could find its resolution in court, suggesting: "FIFA may ultimately have to decide which contract is valid and rule on whether Salah is free to join Roma."
FIFA serving as upstanding arbitrators of morality is fairly ironic, considering the past few months, but were this case brought before a judge—for all parties—a clean break is best.
Chelsea would make money, Fiorentina would rid themselves of an uninterested player and Roma would secure a talented prospect: a rare win-win-win situation.
Should the Egyptian have joined Chelsea last January?
It seems a risk players are willing to take—wagering on their abilities to crack the Blues' first-team riddle. One must admire the confidence and allow footballers the latitude to sink or swim on merit.
Salah was close to success but found the mission a bridge too far.
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase where not noted.
.jpg?w=480 "Cardinals Draft Love Football")
.jpg?w=600 "WWE Raw Results & Grades 🔠")
