Ex-Man Utd Icon Slams Egyptian Star’s Outburst Against Arne Slot, Urges Bench for Champions League and Brighton Clashes Amid AFCON Looms.

Wayne Rooney

Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has accused Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah of undermining his storied Anfield tenure, claiming the Egyptian ace is “destroying his legacy” through a explosive public rant against head coach Arne Slot.

Salah’s Fiery Post-Leeds Comments Ignite Fallout

Mohamed Salah

On Saturday, following Liverpool’s chaotic 3–3 draw with Leeds United, Salah vented frustration in a bombshell interview, alleging the club had “thrown him under the bus” and that his once-solid rapport with Slot had “broken down” entirely. The 33-year-old, benched for the third straight match amid a dip to five goals in 19 appearances, hinted Saturday’s Brighton clash could be his Anfield swansong before AFCON duties. Sportblits noted Salah’s ire stemmed from perceived scapegoating for the Reds’ stuttering title defense.

Rooney’s Verdict: Disrespectful and Legacy-Threatening

In his BBC podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show, the five-time Premier League winner didn’t mince words: “He is absolutely destroying his legacy at Liverpool… It would be sad for him to throw it all away. He’s gone about it all wrong.” Rooney labeled the outburst “disrespectful” to teammates, manager, and fans, predicting Salah—Liverpool’s third all-time top scorer with 250 goals since joining from Roma in 2017—would soon regret the negativity seeping into the dressing room.

Slot Must Assert Authority, Rooney Insists

Rooney urged Slot to flex managerial muscle by sidelining Salah for Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Inter Milan and the Brighton home fixture: “Arne Slot has to show his authority and pull him in… ‘You are not travelling with the team, what you said is not acceptable. Take yourself off to AFCON and let everything calm down.’ If I was him, there would be no way he would be in the team.”

He added: “It needs to be sorted out quickly either way”—be it mending fences with Slot or departing Anfield altogether. Rooney questioned the timing: “Why? Why would you come out and say that?“

Broader Echoes: Owen Joins Criticism, Egypt Backs Salah

Michael Owen

Fellow ex-Liverpool striker Michael Owen echoed the sentiment, blasting Salah’s rant as untimely. Meanwhile, Egypt boss Hossam Hassan showed solidarity via Instagram, hailing Salah as a “symbol of determination“.

As Liverpool train amid the storm—Salah reporting Sunday—Slot faces a selection dilemma before Inter. Rooney’s stark warning underscores the tightrope: For a player of Salah’s caliber, public discord risks eclipsing triumphs.