Mohamed Salah has exceeded all expectations since joining Liverpool from AS Roma last summer.
The Egyptian winger scored an impressive 19 goals in 41 appearances for Roma last season, leading to his £36 million move to Anfield, but there were doubts over whether he’d be able to replicate the same match-winning performances in the Premier League - the league he failed to shine in with Chelsea several years ago.
However, Salah has made his doubters look clueless by scoring a remarkable 36 goals in 40 matches for the Reds this term. A truly extraordinary return for a player who isn’t a natural striker.
Chelsea fans have been left wondering how their club allowed not only Salah but also Kevin De Bruyne to leave Stamford Bridge.
The two stars have been the Premier League’s standout performers this season and would surely go for over £100 million each if either Liverpool or Manchester City decided to cash in.
If only Jose Mourinho had shown more faith in the duo. Just imagine Salah, De Bruyne and Eden Hazard in the same starting line-up.
However, it turns out that Mourinho isn’t the only person who wasn’t convinced by Salah at the time.
What people at Chelsea told Jenas about Salah
This is according to former England midfielder Jermaine Jenas, who has told GQ Magazine what people at Chelsea told him about Salah when the Egyptian plied his trade at the Bridge.
“I spoke to people at the time Mo Salah was at Chelsea and they did not rate him at all,” Jenas revealed.
Wow. That’s pretty damning.
“But that move might just have come too soon for him and he probably tried too hard to impress,” Jenas continued. “Also, he went into a club where you had Drogba, Terry, Lampard – big personalities – and he’s just sitting in.
“Compare that with Liverpool, where the likes of Steven Gerard and Jamie Carragher have gone. All of a sudden, the fans are looking for that big player that Liverpool have always had and he has answered that call.”
Jenas makes a fair point there.
Salah, a mild-mannered, quiet guy, may have been overawed after entering the Chelsea dressing room, which contained some huge personalities at the time.
Salah is Liverpool's new hero
This Liverpool team, however, required a hero - and Salah has duly stepped up to the plate.
“What makes it more remarkable is that this guy is carrying a country on his back,” Jenas added. “An entire country. So playing for Liverpool is like a walk in the park to him.
"The guy has dragged his country to the World Cup almost by himself, and he seems to be a guy who donates a lot of money to youngsters and good causes back in Egypt, so he seems up to the task in hand.
“I’ve seen people up close, like David Beckham and Wayne Rooney, and these players have nations on their backs, but with good players and infrastructure around them it was just a given that we would qualify.
“Salah is performing miracles! So the timing at Liverpool is perfect – the right man, the right manager, the right style of football and the right environment for him to be the main man. Plus he’s learnt a lot from his time at Chelsea of what is expected in the Premier League.”