Chelsea Hero Mikel Backing Liverpool Star Mohamed Salah To Win The Ballon d'Or

Published: June 10, 2020

Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel has lauded the qualities of Egypt international Mohamed Salah and has admitted that he never envisaged that the winger would become one of the best players in the world.

Salah found playing opportunities hard to come by during his time at Stamford Bridge, scoring two goals in 19 matches before he was sold to Roma in 2016.

Mikel is backing the Liverpool star to win the Ballon d'Or in future, adding that he would be proud of his former teammate if it materializes.

"I did not expect Mohamed Salah to succeed after he left Chelsea and went to the Italian League, and from there to Liverpool, I did not expect that he would appear as good as he is now," Mikel said to OnTime Sports Egyptian channel.

"Salah is no less than the others until he wins the Ballon d'Or, and if that happens I will be proud of him, as he is very committed inside and outside the pitch."

Mikel believes Salah didn't play much at Chelsea because he was competing with several world class players for a starting spot.

"Maybe he did not have the opportunity and there were great players at the highest level.

"I remember when he came to Chelsea he was a young boy, he is a nice person and everyone loves him and he was very disciplined and I was his close friend and we were talking and joking a lot and he was a good friend, and to be honest I cannot say what happened with him in Chelsea he needed an opportunity and wanted to play.

"When Salah left Chelsea, he started playing every game, which happened and developed remarkably, and he did not perform well with Chelsea because he did not have the opportunity," he concluded.

A two-time African Footballer of the Year, Salah was ranked the fifth best player in the 2019 Ballon d'Or vote after a remarkable year with Liverpool.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel