Fernando Hierro discusses Mohamed Salah's potential move to Real Madrid
Fernando Hierro has revealed he tried to take Mohamed Salah to Al Nassr – and made no secret of his desire to see the Liverpool forward in a Real Madrid shirt next.
Salah is poised to walk away from Anfield as a free agent next month, bringing an end to nine glittering years on Merseyside. Publicly, the Egypt captain insists he has not decided where he will play next. Privately, some of Europe’s giants are watching every move.
One of Real Madrid’s greatest defenders is clear where he thinks the 31-year-old belongs.
“Salah to Real Madrid? Of course, I would love that,” Hierro told ON Sport. “Salah is an outstanding player in every sense of the word. No one can deny his huge impact at Liverpool and the achievements he has made, especially winning the Premier League.”
For a man who lifted five La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies in white, that endorsement carries weight. To Hierro, a free-transfer move for Salah is the kind of opportunity a club like Madrid simply cannot ignore.
He called Salah “a true football phenomenon,” stressing the forward’s ability to change games on his own and insisting he is the type of player “any club in the world would want to sign.”
The thought of Salah lighting up Spain clearly excites him.
“Imagine him in La Liga, whether with Real Madrid or Barcelona – it would be a huge boost for the competition,” Hierro said. “He has the quality, experience, and ability to adapt to any team or style of play. In the end, Mohamed Salah is a ‘top’ player in every sense. Any club in the world would be proud to have him… so why not see him one day at Real Madrid? Everything is possible in football.”
Al Nassr’s aborted push for Salah
Hierro knows first-hand how hard it is to prise Salah away from Liverpool.
During his spell as sporting director at Al Nassr, he explored the possibility of taking the forward to the Saudi Pro League when Salah’s contract status allowed him to speak to clubs outside England.
“There were indeed many reports in the past about the possibility of Mohamed Salah moving to the Saudi Pro League, but ultimately, the decision always lies with the player,” Hierro admitted.
Talks never advanced. The timing was wrong, and Salah’s mind was elsewhere.
“At that time [last season], his main focus was on Liverpool, which is completely normal for a player of his level,” Hierro said.
From the Saudi side, interest was inevitable. A player of Salah’s stature will always trigger internal conversations.
“From our side, like any sporting management, when a name like Mohamed Salah comes up, it naturally attracts great interest because he is an exceptional player who would add value to any team in the world,” Hierro explained. “So yes, in principle, it is impossible to reject the idea of signing a player of such quality – in fact, it would be an honor for any club.”
The reality, though, never matched the noise.
“Most of what was reported remained within the realm of rumors and did not reach advanced stages, especially given the player’s commitment to his club at that time,” he said.
Salah eventually signed a two-year extension with Liverpool, shelving any Saudi move and underlining his loyalty to Jürgen Klopp’s side at that stage of his career.
Now the landscape has shifted again. The contract is running down. The Anfield era is closing. And as Europe’s elite circle, a Real Madrid icon has made his stance crystal clear.
If Salah is really about to choose his next stage, Hierro wants that decision to lead him to the Bernabéu.
