Mohamed Salah: ‘He was not so prolific’ – Cesc Fabregas on former team-mate’s ‘impossible’ rise

Cesc Fabregas says that if someone had told him what Mohamed Salah would go on to achieve after their time together at Chelsea, he would have called it “impossible”.

But former Spain midfielder Fabregas remembers a much different character from his time at the Blues.

“He was not so prolific in front of goal,” Fabregas revealed on brand new BBC Sounds podcast Planet Premier League.

“Maybe it was lack of chances. You could see his trends. You could see he was quick. You could see that he was attacking the spaces. But then when he had one against ones, maybe he was not as strong as he is now.”

Salah signed for Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea in 2014 but failed to make a mark on the first team, with loan spells at Fiorentina then Roma, who eventually signed him in 2016.

Since joining Liverpool in 2017, the Egyptian winger has scored 153 goals and claimed 67 assists in 251 Premier League appearances, has won the Golden Boot three times and is now one of the biggest players in the world.

‘Sometimes we need to be a little bit more patient’ – Fabregas on Darwin Nunez

Fabregas also shared his thoughts on Salah’s team-mate Darwin Nunez. The 24-year-old Uruguayan joined Liverpool in 2022 for £85m. With 14 goals in 48 Premier League appearances, there has been much discussion about his cutting edge in front of goal.

But World Cup winner Fabregas urged for patience.

“You need to understand that people go through some difficult moments. I could tell you 10,000 players that we felt sometimes, ‘Oh, that’s not a player’,” he said.

“You need your coach, your staff to support you. That’s why I always admired Arsene [Wenger]. Sometimes we need to be a little bit more patient than others.”

‘Excited De Bruyne bringing a child-like joy on his return’

Kevin de Bruyne returned to action for Manchester City on Saturday and made an immediate impact – with a goal and an assist to help beat Newcastle.

The 32-year-old’s last league appearance was in August at Burnley after being sidelined with a hamstring injury.

His return could tilt this year’s title run in City’s favour, but Fabregas believes the Belgian will have to be bedded in gently.

“At the moment he’s like a little boy with new shoes,” said Fabregas. “He’s excited. He’s alive. He comes with a lot of hunger. Now, how is he going to get on when he starts playing 90 minutes and 90 minutes and 90 minutes?”

Despite the challenge, Fabregas believes City are “lucky” to have the squad to be able to manage De Bruyne’s minutes. He also believes his fellow playmaker can adapt to a deeper role – as he himself sometimes had to – as he ages.

“When he starts losing his physicality, he will be able to play midfield. I have no doubt as a double pivot, for example next to Rodri, and run things from there because that’s what special and intelligent players do when they get older.”