Why has Mohamed Salah chosen Trabzonspor?

What the report says

Mohamed Salah’s move to Trabzonspor has been confirmed after the expiry of his Liverpool contract, ending months of speculation over his future. BBC Sport reports that the 34-year-old chose the Turkish club over offers and interest from Saudi Arabian teams and Major League Soccer, with a priority on staying in European football and remaining in Uefa competition. Trabzonspor finished third in the Super Lig last season and will enter Europa League qualifying, which appears to have appealed to Salah as he approaches the later stage of his career.

The report says Trabzonspor were able to move quickly after Besiktas’ attempt to sign Salah collapsed over the financial structure of the deal. Although the club is not among Turkey’s traditional Istanbul giants, it has recent domestic success, including the 2021-22 league title and last season’s Turkish Cup. Salah was greeted by large crowds on arrival, underlining the scale of the signing for a club that BBC Sport says has made him its biggest-ever acquisition.

The move also highlights the growing pull of Turkish football for established players. BBC Sport notes that several high-profile names are already in the Super Lig, while clubs have been spending heavily relative to recent years. According to the report, Salah will wear the number 10 shirt after initially using a symbolic 61 shirt during his unveiling, and Trabzonspor are expected to build their attack around him. The article adds that the transfer is significant both for Salah’s desire to stay competitive in Europe and for the league’s rising profile.