Salah to miss Liverpool pre-season for Olympic Games with Egypt?

James Shearman

• Updated: 23 Jun 2021 15:48 BST

Mohamed Salah is keen to represent Egypt at this summer's Olympic Games in Tokyo, which would see him miss the entirety of Liverpool's pre-season.

The Olympics football gets underway on July 22 and finishes on August 7, a week before the 2021/22 Premier League season begins.

This means that, should Salah play for his country, he would return to England just days before his team's opening match and would likely miss the first few fixtures against Norwich City, Burnley and Chelsea as he takes a break.

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As a result, Liverpool have denied the forward's request to take part in Tokyo, but

the Egyptian FA remain confident that the decision can be overturned.

Salah is said to be in regular contact with the national team as they look to resolve the situation ahead in the next days.

Egypt need Salah

Egypt FA president Ahmed Megahed is adamant that Salah wants to play for his country, despite the troubles it would cause Liverpool's preparation for the upcoming season.

The 29-year-old is one of two senior players included in the Egypt squad, alongside Arsenal's Mohamed Elneny, as the competition stipulates that the rest of the players must be U23.

But Megahed doesn't only believe in Salah's desire to take part, but also that The Reds will change their mind on the situation, permitting their star man to travel to Tokyo next month.

“I do not want to say that it is impossible for Salah to participate in the Olympics, but it is difficult,'' the president told ONTime Sport.

''Salah agreed to lead the Olympic team during the last camp of the Egyptian team.

"We contacted Liverpool to allow Salah to join the Olympic team, and they said they were waiting for the approval of the technical staff, but in the end, Liverpool refused the request because they do not want to lose the player at the beginning of the season, as well as next January with the Africa Cup of Nations, which will keep him from participating in the English Premier League matches.

"We spoke with Salah again, and he told us that he will make a new attempt with the technical staff of his team, to resolve the matter, and within the next two days he will find a way."

Salah has made 70 appearances for the Egyptian national team, scoring 45 goals.

And, he will be desperate to bring silverware to his country after their final defeat at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.