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Why is it so difficult to renew contracts for players over 30?

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Mohamed Salah , Virgil van Dijk and Kevin De Bruyne are all 30 -somethings entering final six months of their contracts.

Salah ( 32 ) and Van Dijk ( 33 ) haven't yet been secured to new deals at Anfield .

Manchester City and Liverpool each have big -- and complex -- decisions to make about their futures.

Ilkay Gündogan , then 32 , captained City to treble glory in 2022-23 .

The midfielder was released by Manchester City in 2023 after captaining the team.

But not all players in their early 30s experience the beginning of their decline.

Cristiano Ronaldo ( 39 ) and Lionel Messi are the ultimate proof of that.