Egyptian star and Al Jazira player Mohamed Elneny affirmed that his compatriot and teammate in the Egyptian national team, Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, deserves to win the Ballon d’Or this year. He pointed out that Salah’s impressive levels and exceptional achievements make him worthy of becoming the best player in the world. Elneny also confirmed Al Jazira’s ability to compete for the league title next season.

Elneny won the title of Best Player in the UAE Pro League last season, chosen by the fans, in his first season with the team during a ceremony held last Saturday in Abu Dhabi, marking another success in his career that has spanned over 10 years in European championships and his previous team Arsenal.

Elneny told Emirates Today: “I hope Mohamed Salah wins the Ballon d’Or because he is a role model for Arab and Egyptian players in professionalism and commitment. He achieved a lot last season, and winning the best player and top scorer titles in the strongest European league, the English Premier League, is not easy.”

He praised the technical level of the UAE league, saying: “The UAE league is very strong and includes global stars. The real surprise for me was the number of teams capable of competing for the title. There is no single dominant team; rather, there are several clubs with the capability and ambition.”

Regarding Al Jazira’s ambitions for the next season, Elneny confirmed that the team has all the components to compete for the league title, adding: “Winning the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Cup last season was proof of the team’s strength. Although we did not win the league title, obtaining this cup, which I consider harder and stronger than the President’s Cup, is an important achievement. The President’s Cup requires only three matches to reach the final, while the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Cup is played on a home-and-away basis, requiring great focus and effort throughout the season.”

Elneny explained that the new signings made by Al Jazira, especially the addition of Ibrahim Adel, the star of Pyramids and the Egyptian national team, represent a great addition to the team. He said: “Ibrahim Adel is a talented and rapidly rising player who will have a great future in football. I expect him to have a wonderful season with Al Jazira. I do not want to comment on whether I had a role in the deal or not, but the club management completed the signing with high professionalism, and I congratulate them on this distinguished step.”

Elneny also spoke about the value of Egyptian players in world football, confirming that recent experiences have proven Egyptians’ ability to play professionally in the strongest championships. He said: “We have Mohamed Salah, Trezeguet, Mostafa Mohamed, in addition to my long experience with Arsenal. These are clear examples that the Egyptian player can shine anywhere in the world if the right environment is found.”

He concluded by confirming that the next UAE league season will be one of the strongest editions in recent years due to the great preparations of the clubs and the increased level of competition, adding: “The next season will be intense from its first rounds, and fans will enjoy a high technical level and distinctive football atmosphere.”