Mohamed Salah, the Liverpool forward, has won yet another award as he strives for Premier League and Champions League glory.
Mohamed Salah has explained how leaving Chelsea aided his transformation into a Liverpool superstar, as he accepted yet another award.
Salah is the latest recipient of the Golden Foot award, an international honor given to players aged 28 and up who stand out for their on-field achievements and personality.
While the Egyptian was in Liverpool preparing for the Merseyside derby against Everton on Wednesday, his wife was in Monaco on Monday night to accept the award on his behalf.
And Salah believes that leaving Chelsea for Fiorentina and then Roma in Italy helped set him on the path to eventual great success at Liverpool.
"It has really helped me," he said of his time in Italy. "I had to change the football and culture at Chelsea when I was there.
"I needed to change my football, so I went to Italy, where I played well and helped me get to where I am
"I had a great time there and they (Fiorentina and Roma fans) were unbelievable. They showed me love.
"I have fond memories of my time there, which is wonderful. They helped me grow as a person and a player, so I owe them a heartfelt thank you, and I hope to see you again soon - maybe even play against each other!"
Previous winners of the Golden Foot, which began in 2003, include Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Ryan Giggs, though Lionel Messi, who controversially won a seventh Ballon D'Or on Monday night, has yet to claim the award.
And Salah added: "It's an honor to win any award, but this one is special because it's been won by so many legendary football players. So it's something unique."
Salah has 17 goals in 18 appearances for Liverpool, who are through to the knockout stages of the Champions League and only two points off the top of the Premier League.
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