FORMER Basel boss Heiko Vogel claimed that “gentle killer” Mohamed Salah failed to impress on his first day on trial in 2012.
The 47-year-old offered the Liverpool winger a week-long trial after he netted twice for the Egyptian U-23 side in a friendly against the Swiss team.
Mohamed Salah signed for Swiss side Basel in 2012 from Egyptian club El MokawloonAction Images – Reuters
And after observing Salah extensively in video clips before the clash, Vogel has claimed the player was so bad he wondered if he had a twin brother.
The ex-Bayern Munich II gaffer told Goal and SPOX: “I told him, ‘Listen, just train as you like, we’ve already made our decision anyway.’
“Then he trained on the first day, everyone watched the session and we wondered if he might have a twin brother.
“The second day was a bit better, but not good. And then came the third day. It was then that he destroyed everything, he was really unstoppable.
“It was absolutely extraordinary. He was so agile, so explosive. If he had the ball on his left foot, it was a goal.
“After that performance everyone knew why we wanted to sign him.”
Salah netted a total of 20 goals in 79 games for Basel before joining Chelsea in January 2014.
Vogel has admitted he didn’t expect the former Roma forward to become a global superstar as he questioned whether he had the right mentality.
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He added: “If you knew him… he is not a world star, he has such a gentle character.
“It was always clear to me that he is an outstanding player, but whether he had the mentality? I didn’t know that exactly. Momo is a gentle killer.
“I would be lying if I said had prophesied such a massive global career for him.”
Salah went on to sign for Liverpool in 2017 and has since won the Premier League title and Champions League in England.
Mo Salah with the Champions League trophyGetty Images – Getty