Football NewsFormer owner of Roma regrets selling Salah and Allison to Liverpool
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The former owner of Roma, Pallotta, admits he hated to authorize the deal that brought Salah to Liverpool during the 2017 summer transfer window.

 

He loved him and did not want to lose him

The Reds parted with £34 million to push the move, but a prolific presence saw its reputation and tag price skyrocket over production time at Anfield. Mohamed has plundered 120 goals for Liverpool in just 193 appearances, amassing two Golden Boots in the Premier League, and Jim Pallotta still curses his luck in being reluctant to negotiate a sale.

Jim, who co-owned Mohamed at the time of the agreement, said that Mohamed was a wonderful kid he hates losing, he loved him and didn’t want to sell him, but he had no choice. According to him, Mohamed Salah was going to go no matter what, because he had something to prove. That was the difference.

Having found good value for money in Mohamed, Klopp chose to go the usual recruiting path in the summer of 2018. With the redesign required at Loris Karius at Anfield, Liverpool has once again looked to Roma for inspiration.

Alisson was a man in their eyes, and the Brazilian International was featured as the Lionel Messi of goalkeepers during his time in Italy. A transfer record was broken to take the South American to Merseyside, with an extended £67m deal, but that did little comfort to Jim Pallotta & Co. in Rome. He added as parting with the world-class, “Why would I sell a guy like that?”

 

They turned out to be biggest players

Mohamed Salah and Alisson were the final pieces in the title puzzle for Liverpool. Jürgen Klopp also drafted in Virgil van Dijk style as drastic additions were made across the field and the Reds began to qualify for the Champions League League, Club World Cup and Premier League crowns. Roma had the funds to invest in replacements, but found the consistency difficult to come and sit seventh in the Serie A standings with nine games remaining this season.