Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has opened up on his private conversation with teammate Mohamed Salah amid growing speculation surrounding the Egyptian forward’s future at Anfield.

Salah recently found himself at the centre of controversy after an explosive interview in which he accused Liverpool of throwing him “under the bus,” a situation that reportedly strained his relationship with the club and new manager Arne Slot. The fallout saw the 32-year-old dropped from the squad before he was later reintegrated following what was described as peace talks with the Dutch tactician.

Despite his return to action, reports have continued to suggest that Salah could leave Liverpool after the Africa Cup of Nations, adding to the uncertainty surrounding his long-term future at the club.

Speaking on the matter, Van Dijk made it clear that he wants the winger to remain part of Liverpool’s core leadership group.

“I have told Mo Salah I want him to stay. The rest I’m not going to tell you,” Van Dijk said, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano.

“I would love to have him around because he is one of the leaders, but the matter of fact is that he is going to AFCON.

“We all hope that Salah is coming back and being important for us for the rest of the season. But on the other side of it, we all know football and we have no idea what’s going to happen.

“I hope he stays because he’s one of my leaders, very important for us.”

Salah is expected to link up with the Egyptian national team ahead of AFCON, where he will once again be tasked with leading his country on the continental stage.

Opinion: A Leader Liverpool Can’t Afford to Lose

Van Dijk’s comments underline just how important Mohamed Salah remains to Liverpool — not just as a goal scorer, but as a leader in the dressing room. When a captain publicly expresses a desire for a teammate to stay, it speaks volumes about the player’s influence behind the scenes.

While disagreements between elite players and managers are not uncommon, Liverpool now face a delicate balancing act. Losing Salah, especially during a transitional period under a new manager, could leave a leadership and experience vacuum that would be difficult to fill immediately.

At the same time, football is a business, and unresolved tensions can sometimes push even club legends toward the exit door. If Liverpool truly value stability and continuity, finding a long-term solution with Salah after AFCON may be one of the club’s most important decisions of the season.

For now, fans can only hope that the Egyptian returns from international duty focused, motivated, and ready to write another chapter in his Anfield legacy.