Salah explains why he turned down Mourinho’s Chelsea stay/loan request

On May 3, 2026, Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah told Don Silas that during his 2014‑2015 spell at Chelsea, manager Jose Mourinho asked him either to remain at the club or go on loan to another UK team, with the promise of returning later. Salah said he refused because he had already decided to leave England for Italy and did not want to come back on a loan deal.

He explained that the constant pressure at Chelsea and his ambition to play in Serie A drove his decision, leading him to join ACF Fiorentina on loan before securing a permanent move to AS Roma in 2015/16. Salah stressed that his relationship with Mourinho remains good and he holds the Portuguese coach in high regard.

The revelation sheds light on a pivotal early‑career choice that set Salah on the path to becoming one of Africa’s top footballers, showing how personal ambition can outweigh a manager’s preference for retaining talent through loans. For young players weighing similar offers, it raises the question: would you accept a loan to stay in a known league, or push for a permanent move abroad to chase your preferred challenge?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/05/03/chelsea-why-i-rejected-mourinhos-requests-at-chelsea-salah/