Wayne Rooney has delivered a scathing assessment of Mohamed Salah's recent outburst, suggesting the Liverpool star is "destroying his legacy" at the club. The former Manchester United striker believes Salah "has thrown Liverpool under the bus" with his comments and will ultimately regret his actions.

The controversy stems from an explosive interview Salah gave following Liverpool's 3-3 draw with Leeds United, a match in which he was an unused substitute. In the interview, Salah claimed he felt "thrown under the bus" by the club and that his relationship with manager Arne Slot had completely broken down. He even hinted at a possible departure in January and suggested that the upcoming game against Brighton & Hove Albion could be his last for Liverpool.

Rooney, speaking on the "Wayne Rooney Show," didn't hold back in his criticism. He stated that Slot needs to assert his authority and exclude Salah from the team. "Arne Slot has to show his authority and pull him in and say 'you are not traveling with the team, what you said is not acceptable'," Rooney said. He suggested Slot should tell Salah to "take yourself off to AFCON and let everything calm down," adding, "If I was him there would be no way he would be in the team".

Rooney believes Salah's outburst was disrespectful to his teammates, the manager, and the fans. He also took issue with Salah's claim that he shouldn't have to "go every day fighting for my position because I earned it". Rooney argued that no player should have that mentality and that every place must be earned, especially at the highest level. "Time catches up with all of us, and this season he hasn't looked as his best, at his sharpest," Rooney said. "You want to see him roll his sleeves up and say: 'Okay then, I'll show you'".

Rooney also expressed concern about the negative energy Salah's comments could bring to the team, especially with new players integrating into the squad. He imagined Salah would be quiet around the training ground, which could create tension. He is sure that over the next couple of years Salah will regret saying what he has.

Despite his criticism, Rooney admitted he could relate to Salah's frustration of not playing every week. He recounted his own experience with Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, where he requested to leave after realizing he wouldn't be a regular starter. However, Rooney emphasized that he handled the situation privately, unlike Salah's public outburst. Rooney feels Salah should apologize to his Liverpool teammates following the interview.

Salah's outburst comes during a challenging season for both Liverpool and the player himself. The team is currently ninth in the Premier League, a significant distance from the top. Salah, at 33 years old, has only scored five goals in 19 appearances across all competitions, leading to him being benched in recent matches.

The situation has sparked speculation about Salah's future at Liverpool, with clubs in Saudi Arabia reportedly interested in signing him. Rooney believes Salah now faces a difficult situation and must either try to repair his relationship with the club or seek a move.