Mohamed Salah has admitted there was "tension" between himself and former Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane during their time together at Anfield.
The Egyptian forward opened up about their relationship in a recent interview with French newspaper L'Equipe, confirming long-standing rumours of a frosty dynamic between the pair.
Despite forming one of the Premier League's most feared attacking partnerships alongside Roberto Firmino, Salah revealed that his connection with Mane was strictly professional.
The admission comes nearly three years after Mane departed Liverpool for Bayern Munich in 2022, following five seasons playing alongside Salah.
Mohamed Salah has admitted his relationship with Sadio Mane was 'tense'
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Their on-pitch chemistry helped Liverpool secure both Premier League and Champions League titles under Jurgen Klopp.
"Yes, there was tension with Sadio," Salah told L'Equipe. "Mind you, we were professional until the end, I don't think it affected the team."
The Liverpool talisman acknowledged the competitive nature of their relationship but insisted it never compromised their performances.
"It's human to want more, I understand that, he's a competitor," he added.
"Off the pitch, we weren't very close, but we always respected each other."
The admission confirms what many Liverpool supporters had long suspected, following several visible on-field disagreements between the pair during their time together.
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Salah also defended himself against accusations that he was selfish during their partnership.
"I don't care. People can think what they want, it's their right," he said.
"But I invite everyone to note that the person who provided Mané with the most assists is me."
He provided 18 assists to Mane during their time together, making them the seventh-highest scoring combination in Liverpool's history.
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Mohamed Salah provided 18 assists to Sadio Mane during their time together
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"We can look at the facts, but it's obviously easier to throw out phrases like that; it makes the headlines," he continued.
"At the end of the day, I know what I did, and my conscience is clear."
The tensions between the pair famously boiled over during a match against Burnley in 2019.
Mane reacted furiously when Salah opted to shoot rather than pass to him when he was unmarked in the box.
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Mohamed Salah admitted his relationship with Sadio Mane was frosty
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The Senegalese forward had to be calmed down by teammates and staff after being substituted shortly afterwards.
Their international rivalry added another dimension to their complex relationship, with Mane's Senegal defeating Salah's Egypt in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations final.
Despite their personal differences, the duo's on-field partnership was instrumental to Liverpool's success under Klopp.
Mane left Liverpool in 2022, joining Bayern Munich before moving to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
