“Yes, There Was Tension” — Salah Opens Up on Mane Relationship, Clears Air on ‘Selfish’ Tag

For years, Liverpool fans speculated about the quiet rivalry between their two attacking titans — Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. Now, Salah himself has finally broken the silence, confirming in a recent interview with France Football that, yes, “there was tension”.

But he was quick to make one thing clear: “We were professional until the end.”

The Egyptian winger, often accused by pundits and fans of being “selfish” during his time alongside Mane, addressed the friction openly. While he admitted they were never especially close off the pitch, he emphasized that their mutual respect never allowed personal competition to disrupt the team.

“It’s human to want more, I understand that; he’s a competitor. Off the pitch, we weren’t very close, but we always respected each other,” Salah said.

And to those who claimed he rarely passed the ball to Mane?

“People can think what they want… But I invite everyone to note that the person who provided Mané with the most assists is me,” he added, shutting down the criticism with a stats-backed mic drop.

💭 Opinion: The Best Rivalries Push You Forward, Not Backward

Salah’s honesty is refreshing — a far cry from the polished PR answers we usually get. In elite sports, rivalries aren’t always about animosity — they’re about ambition. And for Salah and Mane, it’s clear the tension wasn’t toxic, but fuel for greatness.

Together, they formed one of the deadliest attacking duos in Premier League history, leading Liverpool to a Champions League title, Premier League crown, and global acclaim. If a little healthy competition drove that success, fans can only be grateful.

And let’s be real — whether it was Salah's flair or Mane's relentlessness, both men defined an era at Anfield. Their rivalry wasn’t the downfall of a team — it was the fire behind a dynasty.

⚽ Do you think Salah was right to finally speak up? Was the tension a strength or a weakness for Liverpool?
💬 Join the debate with #SalahSpeaks #ManeVsSalah #AnfieldEra #LFCBrotherhood