London, England – Press reports have revealed the behind-the-scenes story of Egyptian star Mohamed Salah’s decision to join Trabzonspor in Turkey after leaving Liverpool at the end of last season. This came despite him receiving offers from clubs in the Saudi Arabian and American leagues.
Trabzonspor officially announced on Thursday evening the signing of Salah on a two-year deal as a free agent. The player will reportedly receive an annual salary of €17 million, in addition to other financial benefits.
Sky Sports reporter Melissa Reddy said that Salah received at least five offers from clubs in the United States and Saudi Arabia during the summer transfer window. She indicated that the financial offer from Trabzonspor was not the highest among the options available to the Egyptian national team captain.
Continuing in Europe is behind the choice of Trabzon
Reddy explained that Salah’s decision wasn’t solely based on financial considerations. The player wanted to continue his career in Europe. Salah aimed to join a team where he could play a leadership role and compete for titles. Additionally, he sought a passionate fan base and a suitable environment for his family.
Salah refused to return to the Italian league
She added that Salah did not want to move to another Premier League club. A return to Serie A was also not among his priorities, despite his previous successful spells with Fiorentina and Roma.
A Sky Sports correspondent indicated that the Saudi league made the most lucrative offer to sign Salah. While at least four American clubs also made offers, the player preferred to remain in Europe.
Reddy confirmed that Trabzonspor’s handling of the negotiations played a key role in finalizing the deal. The Turkish club dealt with the matter calmly and was careful not to disclose details of the negotiations before reaching a final agreement. This contrasted sharply with what happened in the Besiktas negotiations.
In contrast, Reddy believed that Salah was not convinced by Besiktas’s motives for pursuing him. She felt the player perceived the club’s interest as more of a publicity stunt than a genuine sporting project suited to his career.
Salah ended his career with Liverpool after nine seasons with the English club. During those years, he achieved numerous individual and team titles and accolades. He then embarked on a new adventure with Trabzonspor.
