"‘I Don’t Think He’s World-Class’: Troy Deeney Says as he describes Mohamed Salah as an average over-hyped player
Troy Deeney Questions Salah’s ‘World-Class’ Label Despite His Record-Breaking Liverpool Career.
Liverpool’s star player Mohamed Salah is widely considered one of the best in the world, but Troy Deeney, former Watford captain and now a pundit, has shared a surprising opinion. While Deeney admires Salah’s achievements, he doesn’t think the Egyptian qualifies as “world-class” based on his personal criteria.
Salah has won every major trophy at Liverpool, is the club’s fifth all-time top scorer, and is among the highest scorers in Premier League history. He’s a two-time Golden Boot winner and holds the record for the most goals scored by an African player in the Champions League.
Despite this, Deeney believes Salah doesn’t meet his standard of “world-class,” which, for him, means a player who inspires others to emulate their style.
Deeney explained:
He respects Salah as a vital part of Liverpool’s success but says he doesn’t see Salah as someone to model young players after.
Instead, Deeney believes Vinicius Jr. of Real Madrid, known for his flair and creativity, is a better example for aspiring forwards.
Deeney added, “Salah is incredibly effective and scores lots of goals, but my opinion of world-class is about more than stats. If I had to pick someone for my kids to watch and learn from, it’d be Vinicius Jr., not Salah.”
At 32 years old, Salah’s future at Anfield is uncertain. His contract runs until 2025, but he could start negotiations with foreign clubs from January. There’s speculation about a potential move to Saudi Arabia after Liverpool previously rejected a massive £150 million bid from Al-Ittihad.
Deeney acknowledged Salah’s immense popularity in the Middle East and suggested that if Salah were to move to Saudi Arabia, it wouldn’t be solely about money. He also said Salah would still be loved by Liverpool fans for his contributions to the club.
As Salah continues to shine for Liverpool this season, fans and pundits alike are debating what the future holds for the Egyptian King—and whether Deeney’s perspective has merit.
