Just when Liverpool supporters thought the Mo Salah chapter had finally closed, an intriguing question is beginning to emerge.
Could Salah perform a dramatic U-turn following Arne Slot’s departure and the arrival of Andoni Iraola?
At first glance, it seems unlikely.
Salah’s exit appeared definitive, and after years of incredible service, many supporters had accepted that an era was coming to an end.
However, football has taught us never to say never.
And the circumstances surrounding Liverpool have changed significantly.
Was It More Than Just Money?
One of the biggest questions surrounding Salah’s departure has always been whether footballing reasons played a role.
Former Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren recently suggested that Salah’s relationship with Slot was not particularly strong, claiming that the dynamic between player and manager was very different to the one Salah enjoyed under Jürgen Klopp.
Whether those claims are entirely accurate is impossible to know.
But what is clear is that many supporters felt Liverpool’s style of play became increasingly restrictive over the past season.
For a player like Salah, that matters.
Elite forwards want freedom.
They want attacking football.
They want opportunities to express themselves.
Iraola’s Philosophy Could Appeal
That is where Andoni Iraola enters the conversation.
The Spaniard has built a reputation as one of the most attack-minded coaches in European football.
His comments from earlier this year are particularly interesting:
“I sometimes value much more a player carrying the ball and forcing things to happen.”
“I think when you play too positional – one, two touches to find a free man – you sometimes lose the initiative from the players to just take their man on and attack the spaces.”
Liverpool supporters reading those quotes will immediately think of Mo Salah.
Few players in world football are better when given the freedom to attack defenders directly and create moments of chaos.
In many ways, Iraola’s philosophy seems perfectly suited to a player of Salah’s profile.
The Klopp Connection
Another interesting detail is that Iraola has previously earned praise from Jürgen Klopp.
The former Liverpool manager admired the intensity and bravery of Iraola’s teams, and many supporters see similarities between the Spaniard’s football and the famous “heavy metal” approach that brought Liverpool so much success.
If Salah’s frustrations were linked to Liverpool becoming too cautious or predictable, Iraola’s arrival could potentially address those concerns.
A Realistic Possibility?
Of course, there is a huge difference between a footballing fit and an actual return.
Salah’s departure appeared well advanced, and Liverpool have already begun planning for life without him.
The club are pursuing younger attacking players and looking toward the future.
There is also the reality that Salah is no longer a player who can simply be inserted into any long-term project without careful consideration.
Supporters Can Dream
Still, it is impossible to ignore the timing.
A manager who many believe did not maximise Salah’s strengths has departed.
A coach known for encouraging flair, aggression and individual expression has arrived.
And Liverpool supporters know better than anyone that football can produce unexpected twists.
Will Salah perform a U-turn?
At this stage, the answer is still probably no. The practical and contractual realities surrounding his departure make a return unlikely, and Liverpool appear to be moving ahead with plans for the future.
Yet the arrival of Iraola changes the conversation in a meaningful way. If footballing concerns played any role in Salah’s decision, Liverpool now have a manager whose philosophy aligns far more closely with the qualities that made the Egyptian a global superstar.
That does not make a comeback likely—but it does make it more conceivable than it was under the previous regime.
The key insight is simple: Iraola’s appointment may not reopen the door fully, but it is the strongest reason yet to believe it has not been shut completely. For now, a Salah return remains an outside possibility rather than a realistic expectation, but in football, those possibilities can sometimes become reality.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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