The cold truth behind Mohamed Salah’s move to Turkey’s fourth-biggest club

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Two months before Mohamed Salah signalled the end of his Liverpool fc career with the explosive outburst in which he claimed he had been thrown under the bus came the first indication he had lost his status as an automatic choice.Salah was benched for the Champions League defeat to Galatasaray in September. In the summer of 2025, fresh from a season when he scored 29 Premier League goals and recorded 18 assists, his availability on a free transfer would surely have brought a more prestigious suitor than Turkey’s fourth biggest club.Mohamed Salah’s move to Trabzonspor is a stark drop-off from Liverpool (AP)But he was mobbed by fans during his introduction at the club (Reuters)Nevertheless, Salah in Turkey offers intrigue.

It is thought the Egyptian’s camp approached his old employers at Roma; minus a move to the traditional elite, it is hard to escape the conclusion that they feel his best days are, suddenly, far behind him.The relationship between Salah and Arne Slot had deteriorated as the season went on (PA)Perhaps his most recent display against a Turkish side indicates he could still be a force in the Super Lig though. That Turkey is an Islamic country, and relatively close to Egypt, could have swayed his decision, certainly compared to the long distance to Kansas City.The probability is that Salah’s exit from Liverpool has been cushioned by a pay-off to compensate for the last year of a lucrative contract.

Slot’s sacking may have been rendered more likely by some of Salah’s words; his Instagram post, a week before the end of the season, calling for a return of “heavy-metal football”, may have meant he got his wish when Andoni Iraola was appointed. And so Salah has his new club but Liverpool do not have their new Salah.