Injured Liverpool and Egypt winger Mohamed Salah’s agent has criticised “cheap” fans and “influencers” gossiping about the star’s latest setback.

The Egyptian will be returning to Merseyside so he can begin rehabilitation on the injury he suffered in his country’s 2-2 draw with Ghana in the group stages. Salah, 31, left the match clutching his hamstring and has not featured for the Pharoah’s since. Jurgen Klopp has repeatedly said Salah could play for Egypt in the competition again, if they reach the later stages.

Salah recently took to X to update his fans, saying: “Yesterday I started the treatment and rehabilitation program and I will do everything possible to be ready as soon as possible and return to the national team as was agreed upon from the beginning… I also love it and its people…try harder,” alongside a laughing emoji.

Shortly after his tweet, his agent Ramy Abbas Issa lashed out at individuals who were criticising him for returning to Liverpool to start his rehabilitation. Issa also took to X to say: “The same individuals and ‘influencers’ who get weak in the knees when they happen to bump into Mohamed in person and beg for ‘follows’ or selfies, tried to capitalise on an unfortunate injury and questioned Mohamed’s commitment to his country.

“They did this looking for fame, clicks and ‘likes’. I want to thank those who did the honourable thing and pointed out how ridiculous and cheap that was. I took names. In both cases.

Salah’s agent looked to dismiss recent rumours (Image: @RamyCol/Twitter)

Salah was in a lot of discomfort when he felt the injury (Image: LEGNAN KOULA/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

“Most importantly, to the vast majority of you, who support Mohamed, my message to you is not to worry, because your global icon, the one you helped create, is already too big to be brought down by social media. No hyperventilating or foaming-in-the-mouth ‘influencer’ is going to change that.”

Issa’s fierce defence also comes after Egyptian football icon Ahmed Hassan criticised the Liverpool forward for returning to his club. Hassan said: “I’ve always backed Salah and I was very happy with his presence as captain of the Egyptian national team.

Salah’s decision to return to Liverpool for rehabilitation has been heavily criticised (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

“I had no problems with what he said, but it turned out that he was plotting his departure from the Egypt camp. Do the AFCON regulations allow a player to leave the national team’s camp and come back again? He had the possibility of bringing in someone from Liverpool’s medical staff to be with him during the competition.

“Again, he is the captain. He should stay with the team no matter what, even if he only had one leg to stand on.

“He even said himself that it’s the Egyptian national team, not Salah’s national team, and this is true. We have confidence in all the players who are there and they must fight for the title.”