The 23-year-old’s future remains unclear, with Italian duo Fiorentina and Inter in a tug-of-war for the player, yet the Blues boss says he will leave
Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah “doesn’t belong” at Stamford Bridge and will leave the club on loan this summer, says manager Jose Mourinho.
Salah joined Chelsea from Basel in January 2014 but spent the second half of last term on loan at Fiorentina as part of the deal that saw Juan Cuadrado move in the other direction.
Fiorentina claimed to have an agreement to retain Salah’s services for the upcoming campaign, only to be met with resistance by the player, who they say “expressed his desire to join another club”.
Speaking after Chelsea’s International Champions Cup fixture against Paris Saint-Germain in Charlotte, Mourinho said: “He doesn’t belong to my squad and he’s not staying here.
“The important thing is that he plays like he did at Fiorentina, so [I’m] happy with him going on a loan.
“Italian football is difficult football to play, especially for attacking players. So if it’s not Fiorentina it’s Roma or Inter or Juve – I don’t know. Maybe he has a loan.
“He’s a good boy and a good player. He needs more top-level football so I’m happy with any decision him and the club make.”
Inter head coach Roberto Mancini confirmed this week that they are interested in bringing the 23-year-old to the club, yet the Viola criticised their attempts to sign the player.
