Salah Cherished from a Distance in His Egyptian Hometown Amid Club Conflicts
In the village of Nagrig within the Nile Delta, locals hold a deep affection for their native Mohamed Salah, even as disputes between the Egyptian football sensation and his longstanding English side Liverpool fail to tarnish his shining reputation back home.
"He inspires me to believe in my dreams," shared 16-year-old Mohamed Ahmed with AFP, while walking onto the field at the Nagrig sports facility, the very place where Salah began developing his skills on his remarkable path to the pinnacle of global football.
"Playing here fills me with joy," Ahmed added, speaking of the centre now bearing Salah's name, a spot where youths from the area and further afield gather to honour the player's legacy, arriving under a large wall painting of the celebrated athlete.
The depiction of Salah, victorious in Liverpool's red kit, represents the nearest encounter for numerous villagers with their local hero, as although his fame spreads everywhere in Nagrig, personal meetings remain rare. Traces of his presence elsewhere in the community are scarce.
"His visits occur under cover of darkness to avoid attention," explained Asma, a young pupil who shared just her given name.
The 33-year-old Egyptian national team player criticised Liverpool's coach Arne Slot following his exclusion as a reserve in the recent match versus Leeds.
Excluded from Liverpool's lineup for the Champions League match away at Inter Milan on Tuesday, Salah now faces speculation about a potential transfer to the wealthy Saudi Pro League.
Philanthropic Dedication
Amid the turmoil away from the field, Roshdy Gaber, the security chief at the sports facility, described Salah as "a role model for the youth" and "a resilient individual who earned his success through effort".
Departing Nagrig at age 14 to train with a Cairo club, then heading to Europe for stints at Basel, Chelsea, Fiorentina, and Roma prior to joining Liverpool, the player known as the "Pharaoh" stays connected to his origins.
Mohamed Ahmed's parent, Ahmed Ali, called the football youth facility the "strongest evidence" of Salah's "philanthropic dedication".
"Kids in our area no longer need to travel to neighbouring places for football," noted the 45-year-old factory employee, who mirrors his child's passion for the sport.
Salah, recognised for incorporating prayer into his goal celebrations and often discussing his Islamic beliefs, financed the building of a religious school for both boys and girls in Nagrig, with expenses exceeding 17 million Egyptian pounds ($350,000).
Each month, his foundation provides EGP 50,000 to support orphans, widows, and divorced women locally.
An unnamed local authority figure stated that Salah serves as "a tremendous point of pride" for the community, and the football icon continues to embody "the courteous and modest youth we remember".
Still, this figure wondered if the double African Ballon d'Or recipient, drawing a weekly wage of £400,000 ($535,000), might contribute even more of his fortune to the area.
Overstated Tales
"Sadly, numerous accounts have been overstated," the figure remarked, alluding to the aid offered by Salah.
Ali, earning about $100 monthly at his factory job, echoed this view, suggesting Salah could do more for the locals.
"Certain farmers show greater generosity," he commented.
Encircled by the lush fields of the Nile Delta, which yield crops like onions, jasmine, and rice, the 20,000-resident village, located 120 kilometres northwest of Cairo, grapples with deteriorating facilities.
In the beginning of December, heavy rain inundated Nagrig's rutted roads, forcing players heading to the sports facility to leave their vehicle and proceed on foot.
Wading through the sludge with footwear carried, the athletes navigated the rushing water to reach the game.
Despite reservations, the local authority figure affirmed that Salah has "revitalised not only his village but also Egypt, the Arab region, and indeed Africa".
"It may take years before another figure like Mohamed Salah emerges," he concluded.