Trezeguet rules out Egypt retirement and rejects Salah comparisons

Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet says he has no intention of retiring from international football and will remain available for Egypt whenever required, while insisting Omar Marmoush and Hamza Abdelkarim should not be judged solely against Mohamed Salah.

The 31-year-old Riyadh player said his age meant he still had plenty to offer the national team and that he remained ready to answer any call-up.

“I do not think about international retirement. I am 31 years old and always at the disposal of the national team,” Trezeguet said in comments to Rotana Sport with Waleed.

Trezeguet joined Riyadh from Egyptian club Al Ahly this summer and said his move to the Saudi Pro League was based on a firm belief in the quality of the competition.

He added that he felt comfortable living in Saudi Arabia, which he described as his “second home”.

One of the most positive aspects of his experience, he said, had been seeing Egyptian supporters attending matches at different stadiums. Trezeguet also praised Riyadh’s manager and board, saying the club had provided the resources required to pursue its objectives.

“I knew how strong the Saudi league was and I am happy to be in my second home,” he said. “One of the pleasant surprises for me has been seeing Egyptian fans in every stadium. We have a respectable manager and an administration that provides everything we need.”

The former Aston Villa and Galatasaray player said his spells in England and Turkey had given him a useful basis for assessing the organisation of the Saudi competition.

Trezeguet said the Saudi Pro League had reached the highest standards operationally, drawing on his experience of playing in both countries before moving to Riyadh.

He also revealed that officials from Trabzonspor contacted him before Salah joined the Turkish club and asked for his opinion on the proposed move.

Trezeguet said he had advised Salah to take up the opportunity and experience football in Turkey.

Asked whether Marmoush or Hamza Abdelkarim could provide the best continuation of Salah’s international career, Trezeguet rejected the idea that either player should be placed under pressure to replicate the Liverpool and Egypt forward’s achievements.

He argued that every footballer had different circumstances and followed an individual career path. The former Egypt international therefore resisted direct comparisons based simply on Salah’s success.

Salah’s eventual move to Trabzonspor was not detailed further in Trezeguet’s comments, but the Riyadh player confirmed that he had been consulted before the transfer and had encouraged it.

Trezeguet concluded by praising Cristiano Ronaldo, calling the Portugal captain the greatest player in history.

He said Ronaldo’s presence represented enormous value for the Saudi Pro League and for any club fortunate enough to have him.