The Egypt international is regarded as one of the best players in the world after successful spells at Roma and with the Reds.
Former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o believes the pep talk he gave Mohamed Salah has inspired a turnaround in the Liverpool winger's career.
The 26-year-old is regarded as one of the best players in the world thanks to successful spells with Roma and at Anfield, as well as his heroic displays for his country Egypt.
Salah is expected to be among the contenders to finish in the top three for the annual Ballon d'Or prize, having netted 44 goals last season and led Liverpool to the Champions League final.
Eto'o and Salah played together at Chelsea for six months in 2014 and the former Cameroon international is taking credit for helping steer the winger's career in the right direction.
“I hope that Salah remembers the day we were together in Stamford Bridge dressing room after he'd had a poor performance," he told Qatar's Al Kass Sports Channel.
“I asked him to be patient and told him ‘You are a good player and you will become a great player'.
“Salah has turned into that big player and will write his own story through persistence and strong desire.
“The whole thing depends on Salah himself, he has unbelievable skills and is currently performing at a top level that's allowing him to compete for Ballon d’Or.”
Eto'o, also formally of Liverpool's Merseyside rivals Everton, is currently seeing out the twilight of his own career with Qatar Sports Club.
Though's Salah has significantly improved since his spell at Stamford Bridge, he is enduring a lean start to the 2018-19 campaign.
He has netted seven goals in 16 appearances in all competitions but has failed to hit the heights of last season, with a succession of missed chances leading former Arsenal defender Martin Keown to conclude that Salah is out of sorts.
"I look at Salah, and he doesn't look the real deal for me," he told BT Sport.
"When you really look at him, he was really quiet today. Something is wrong.
"Maybe the injury he has is affecting him and he doesn't want to get hurt. He's not really the same player."
Suobemnyz
186
Yes for sure his playing standard drop and I think he needs some sort of counseling as a matter of fact I think the whole team standard drop they don't have the same fire power like last season and it's plain to see
Ficdikr
148
it is a matter of time, sallah need to take it easy and concentrate on the field of what he is doing during a game. He can get there again through his hard work and patience.
Kedcmrs
143
the problem is so simple ... like what liverpool did with owen a long time ago i see this with salah.... they make him play for the whole season and he is the best player in the world... i assure you he is ... but after that, the pressure of doing it again or better in the next season is so hard. thats what happen when you push players too hard. they tend to loose their way. i can tell you the same for jamie vardy. was the best for only one season then dropped completely off the board... he is out now and need to change club. salah is not afraid to play because of injuries he is a footballer of career and he loves the game.. he is just out of his boots for the moment... liverpool manages are so willing to break the drought of winning the league that they push players too hard and they break ... when you have a star in your club or many stars, please manage them properly.... ive seen the match against arsenal and ive noticed how hard and so angry and agitated the liverpool manager was in the dugout. sorry guys he is not that special...
Nesaiknruy_Legend
78
Salah is not an old man. It only happened 4 yrs ago. Eto is just trying to appear on the news page. Eto is only good at scoring tap in goal. He is over rated at his time at barca nobody mention his name nowadays.
Are you mad, Eto'o is like one of the best strikers in the game. The fk is wrong with you. And people know him for inter as he was one of their best strikers in their history as he scored all their CRUCIAL goals. Surely crucial goals aren't all tap ins 😅. Eto'o and Milito partnership was one of the deadliest ever..