Soon-to-be-free Liverpool star expresses admiration for Real Madrid icons – ‘Wanted to play with them’ | OneFootball

Liverpool icon Mohamed Salah has shared the names of the four players who have influenced him the most in his career.

The Egyptian star, whose contract with Liverpool is set to expire next summer, expressed his admiration for Ronaldo Nazario, Zinedine Zidane, Francesco Totti, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Salah highlighted the joy these players brought to the game and their exceptional skills on the pitch. From the flair of Ronaldo Nazario to the elegance of Zidane, these football icons shaped Salah’s early perceptions of the sport.

“I love the way Ronaldo Nazario, Zinedine Zidane and Francesco Totti played. I always looked at these players and they just enjoyed the game,” he said on Liverpool’s YouTube channel.

He also acknowledged Cristiano Ronaldo’s relentless dedication, which he observed more closely when he began playing in Europe.

“Cristiano too, when I started playing more in Europe. You see the way he has always dedicated himself to football, it’s incredible. The way in which they take care of themselves is also seen in their numbers,” he noted.

Inspired by the icons

Salah loved watching Ronaldo. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Salah spoke fondly of his time with Francesco Totti during their shared stint at AS Roma. Spending two years alongside Totti gave Salah an up-close view of the Italian legend’s unmatched technical ability and warm personality.

“I looked at these players when I was young and I just wanted to play a game with them or be like them one day.”

This period remains one of the standout chapters in Salah’s career, further cementing Totti as one of his biggest inspirations.

“I had a good opportunity to play with Totti for two years in Rome. It was an incredible time, I loved it. His technique was crazy and he was also a very, very good person,” he admitted.

Interestingly, three of the players Salah mentioned—Ronaldo Nazario, Zidane, and Cristiano Ronaldo—are closely associated with Real Madrid, a detail that has not gone unnoticed by fans and pundits online.

This has sparked discussions, especially with Salah’s future at Liverpool hanging in the balance. In just two months, the Egyptian will be free to negotiate with other clubs, intensifying speculation about his next move.