How Trabzonspor shocked Turkish rivals to make Mohamed Salah their Black Sea saviour

According to The Guardian, Trabzonspor’s remarkable pursuit of Mohamed Salah began with a text message sent during the World Cup. Club president Ertugrul Dogan was watching Egypt when he contacted manager Fatih Tekke and asked: “Coach, do you want Mohamed Salah?” Tekke’s response was immediate enthusiasm.

Trabzonspor’s initial push for the former Liverpool striker went under the radar. For weeks, Besiktas looked the most likely destination, with Istanbul’s Big Three – Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas – holding a long-standing financial and cultural monopoly on the Süper Lig’s marquee signings.

Yet Trabzonspor eventually shocked their Turkish rivals, convincing Salah to reject Istanbul and become their Black Sea saviour. The club reportedly offered him more than riches, sealing a landmark deal that would have once seemed unthinkable for a team based outside Turkey’s biggest city. Readers can find related match highlights on this site.