Mohamed Salah is unlikely to travel to the Tokyo Olympics to represent Egypt next month, sources have told ESPN, with Liverpool expected to play a full role in the club's preseason preparations for the upcoming Premier League campaign.
Egyptian Football Association president Ahmed Megahed claimed this week that the 29-year-old Salah would approach Liverpool to request permission to represent his country in Tokyo as an older player on the team. The age limit is 24, three players over that age are allowed to be selected.
Despite strict COVID-19 rules in Japan due to go ahead with the Olympics next month, which has severely restricted the number of crowds at the events, Salah took off until a week before Liverpool's Premier League opening game at Norwich City Maybe if he travels to the games. , which runs from July 22 to August 7.
But sources have told ESPN that while Liverpool have no strict policy on players not participating in the Olympics, there is no hope at Anfield that Salah will join the competition.
Liverpool have already rejected France's request to add Ibrahima Konate to their Olympic squad for the summer, with the former RB Leipzig defender due to be available at the start of preseason training on 12 July.
And Japan forward Takumi Minamino will not be included for the hosts as he was not selected as one of their older players.
Sources have said Egypt is determined to include the country's star player Salah in the Olympics, but Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is planning to include all players in the club's preseason training program for Euro 2020 or Copa America. are not in.
Salah's chances of traveling to Japan have also been affected by the Africa Cup of Nations, which is due to be held in Cameroon in January and February 2022 after a year-long delay by the pandemic.
While FIFA's rules do not oblige clubs to release players for the Olympics, they are required to do so for competitive international fixtures and Liverpool have already been without Salah for the Cup of Nations for six weeks. making plans.
Senegalese forward Sadio Mane and Guinea midfielder Nabi Keita could also be absent from Klopp's squad for the tournament.