A cryptic social media post from former Liverpool star Sadio Mane has ignited a firestorm of speculation online, coinciding with a period of intense turmoil for his old teammate Mohamed Salah at Anfield.
Mane's Mysterious Message Sparks Fan Theories
On Saturday, December 6, Sadio Mane, now playing for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, shared a simple selfie on X (formerly Twitter) accompanied by a single, unexplained emoji. Under normal circumstances, such a post might have passed unnoticed. However, the timing proved explosive.
Mane's post appeared online around the same time Liverpool released their team sheet for a Premier League clash against Leeds United, which once again listed Mohamed Salah as a substitute. This marked the third consecutive match the Egyptian king was named on the bench by manager Arne Slot.
The post quickly went viral, amassing 36,000 likes, 3,300 retweets, and 768 comments within just 16 hours. Fans were quick to connect the dots, with many interpreting the vague message as a subtle comment on Salah's situation at his former club.
Salah's Bombshell Interview Confirms Rift with Slot
The speculation around Mane's post reached a fever pitch hours later when Mohamed Salah gave a stunning interview following Liverpool's dramatic 3-3 draw with Leeds. In a frank conversation with journalists, the 33-year-old forward confirmed that his relationship with manager Arne Slot has completely broken down.
"I don't know why the relationship changed," Salah stated. "I used to have a good one with the manager, and now it feels like nothing. I've been on the bench for three games. I don't feel the promises made to me were kept."
Salah's frustration was palpable. He emphasized his contributions to the club and strongly hinted at a potential January exit. He suggested that Liverpool's upcoming match against Brighton could be his farewell at Anfield before he departs to join the Egyptian national team for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Fan Reactions and the Shadow of Past Tensions
The coincidence of Mane's post and Salah's public outburst sent social media into a frenzy. Reactions were divided, with many fans recalling the reported tensions between the two African superstars during their time together at Liverpool.
One fan questioned the ambiguity, writing: "What in the mother of cryptic messages is this?" Another directly linked it to Salah, asking: "Is that face for Salah?"
However, some observant users pointed out that Mane's post was published before Salah's interview was made public, though it was after the team news and benching. This nuance did little to quell the theories, with another fan noting, "The timing is impeccable."
Meanwhile, manager Arne Slot had earlier explained his decision to bench Salah against Leeds, a match where Ao Tanaka's 96th-minute strike earned the visitors a last-gasp equalizer. This result meant Liverpool dropped points for the second week running, adding more pressure to an already tense situation at the club.
As the saga unfolds, the football world is left watching closely. The combination of Mane's enigmatic social media activity and Salah's candid revelation of a fractured relationship with his manager points to a deepening crisis at one of England's biggest football clubs.
