Cape Town - Mohamed Salah says he was destined to join Liverpool after revealing he had his eye on a move to Merseyside when he made his first big international move.
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The 26-year-old Reds star left one of his boyhood club's El Mokawloon - where he signed his first senior contract - to join Swiss side Basel in 2012.
Salah then went on to play for Chelsea, Fiorentina (loan) and Roma before eventually finding his way to Liverpool in 2017.
Netting 44 goals in his first season with the Reds firmly established Salah as a world class player.
And speaking to the club's website ahead of facing Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday, he said: "It was when I went to Basel from Egypt, I had a plan in my mind that I would hopefully one day come to Liverpool.
"There was a chance before, but at the time it didn't work for both sides.
"When there was interest again last year, I was very interested in coming to Liverpool straight away in my head, but you also have to see what the plan for you is and how you will fit into it. Here I am now."
Salah has seven goals in 14 games for Liverpool this season.