In a recent interview, Brazilian winger Antony disclosed that he was on the verge of joining Liverpool as a potential replacement for Mohamed Salah during the summer of 2022.

Mohamed Salah is in outstanding form right now, making it an intimidating challenge for whoever eventually replaces him—especially if that person were to be Antony.

Speaking to Estadio Deportivo, the Brazilian recalled how close he was to joining Liverpool in the summer of 2022:

“It’s true, I nearly signed for Liverpool, but no one knows how things would have turned out. In the end, I chose Manchester United, where I had some great moments, and that was also a good decision.”

He also praised Salah: “He’s an incredible player who has been performing at a high level for a long time. He’s an exceptional footballer. I’m not sure if he’s the best in the world right now, but he’s definitely among the best and a serious contender for the Ballon d’Or.”

Looking back, Liverpool clearly made the right call by extending the contract of their legendary forward rather than signing Antony from Ajax.

Antony struggled to make an impact at Manchester United and is currently on loan at Real Betis. Arne Slot, who saw Antony’s antics firsthand in the Eredivisie while managing Feyenoord, would likely find these comments amusing, just as he once did on the pitch.

This isn’t the first time reports have emerged about Salah nearly being replaced by Antony, but it certainly reinforces how fortunate Liverpool were to retain their No.11. With Salah’s future still uncertain, fans will hope that Richard Hughes ensures another contract extension to avoid a potential downgrade.