Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo to snub Olympics to stay with Liverpool club

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo were expected to play in the Olympics for Egypt and Japan, respectively, but will instead stay with Liverpool for pre-season training, as reported by The Athletic.

Chirag

July 3, 2024

Wataru Endo And Salah To Stay With Liverpool During Olympics — John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Initially, it was believed that Salah would play for Egypt and Endo for Japan at the Olympics, with Endo being one of the three over-age players permitted per team in the Paris Games this summer.

However, The Athletic reports that both players will not participate in the Olympics and will remain with Liverpool to prepare for the first season after Jurgen Klopp’s departure. Since the Olympics is not a FIFA-sanctioned event, clubs are not required to release their players. Additionally, young midfielder Stefan Bajcetic has been excluded from Spain’s squad to ensure he has a complete pre-season following a calf injury that shortened his 2023-24 season.

Former Feyenoord manager Slot, who has taken over from Klopp, will be pleased to have Salah, Endo, and Bajcetic available as Liverpool gears up for the new season. The team will embark on a tour of the United States in late July.

Liverpool’s pre-season tour kicks off on July 27 with a friendly against Real Betis in Pittsburgh, followed by matches against Arsenal on August 1 and Manchester United on August 4. The Premier League season starts on August 17, with Liverpool facing newly-promoted Ipswich.