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Egypt's national team director Ibrahim Hassan has spoken up to discourage a potential transfer to MLS for outgoing Liverpool star Mohamed Salah.
Following Salah's surprising departure announcement on Tuesday, speculation has been swirling about where the 33-year-old will head next. Moves to MLS or the Saudi Pro League have generated the most buzz, while a transfer to Türkiye to join the likes of Victor Osimhen and Leroy Sané has also been floated.
Hassan argued that the decorated Salah, who boasts two Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy, would be too far from "the spotlight" if he chose to conclude his nine-year stint at Anfield by crossing the Atlantic to America's top division.
"Personally, I would prefer him to stay in Europe," Hassan told On Sports. "I have heard about offers from Paris Saint‑Germain, Bayern Munich and clubs in the Italian league."
What Did Hassan Say About MLS and Lionel Messi?
"A move to the Major League? He would be far too out of the spotlight," Hassan said. "You won't remember Salah any more than I remember (Lionel) Messi now, I don't even try to watch him."
Hassan's dig at Messi comes just days after Inter Miami revealed that the club's new venue, Nu Stadium, will feature a tribute to the Argentine icon for his enduring impact on the team and the league as a whole. The Leo Messi Stand will mark the first instance of an active player having a stand named after him at his home ground, according to the club.
Messi has consistently drawn massive crowds across the U.S., most recently at M&T Bank Stadium, home of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, where over 72,000 supporters attended Inter Miami's 2–1 victory over DC United earlier this month. Beyond the enormous American fanfare, Messi has guided the Herons to the 2023 Leagues Cup title, the 2024 Supporters' Shield and the 2025 MLS Cup since arriving in South Florida in 2023. He is also credited with sparking a wave of global stars into the U.S. top flight, including Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, Rodrigo De Paul and Son Heung-min.
While Inter Miami are not currently in talks to acquire Salah, MLS has made its interest known at the league level. "Mo Salah is one of the great players in the history of the Premier League ... I'd love to see him in our league," MLS commissioner Don Garber told reporters at the Sports Business Journal conference in Atlanta on Thursday.
Nonetheless, Hassan would still rather see Salah in Saudi Arabia over a move to MLS, should he not remain in Europe.
"If he does not receive offers from Europe, then a move to the Saudi league would be a good option, especially with big names such as Cristiano (Ronaldo)," Hassan added.
Salah is currently absent from Egypt's March international window, having missed the 4–0 triumph over Saudi Arabia on Friday. He is, however, expected to be the centerpiece of Egypt's attack at this summer's 2026 World Cup.