Mohamed Salah greeted by huge Trabzonspor welcome as Hafid Derradji hails ‘global icon’

Egypt captain Mohamed Salah was met by a huge reception from Trabzonspor supporters after arriving in the Turkish city ahead of his expected move to the Turkish club.

Large numbers of fans gathered at the airport and in the surrounding streets to welcome Salah, in scenes that generated widespread reaction across social media and were described by the Turkish press as the “bombshell of the year”.

The arrival also drew a response from well-known Algerian football commentator Hafid Derradji, who praised the scale of the welcome for the former Liverpool star.

Writing on his official X account, Derradji said: “A huge reception for the Egyptian star Mohamed Salah from the supporters of Turkish club Trabzonspor, in a scene that reflects the great status enjoyed by one of the world’s leading football stars, and the love held for him by football fans inside and outside Turkey.”

Derradji’s post came as footage of Salah’s arrival in Turkey circulated widely online. The crowds who turned out to greet the Egypt captain underlined the level of anticipation surrounding his move to Trabzonspor and the attention it has attracted beyond Turkey.

The commentator’s reaction was viewed as highlighting the Arab and international significance of the deal, as well as Salah’s enduring popularity across different football audiences.

His global profile had previously been closely associated with Liverpool, but the reception in Trabzon showed that his appeal extends well beyond his former club. Supporters of Trabzonspor joined fans from elsewhere in celebrating the player as he prepared to begin a new chapter in the Turkish top flight.

Thousands of social-media users responded to Derradji’s message, with many saying his words accurately captured the atmosphere surrounding Salah’s arrival. They argued that the welcome demonstrated how the Egypt captain has become more than simply a footballer in the eyes of supporters.

For those fans, Salah represents a “global icon” capable of bringing together football followers from different countries and backgrounds. The scenes in Trabzon were presented as another example of the affection he commands internationally, with the response from Trabzonspor supporters providing a particularly striking demonstration of his popularity.

The reception took place as Salah travelled to Trabzon ahead of joining Trabzonspor. The scale of the gathering, together with the reaction from one of the Arab world’s most prominent football voices, has added to the excitement surrounding the move and its significance for supporters of the Turkish club.