Mohamed Salah’s move to Trabzonspor marks a very different path from Ronaldo and Messi

Mohamed Salah’s move from Liverpool to Trabzonspor represents an unexpected turn in the career of one of his generation’s leading players, according to an analysis by James Horncastle for The Athletic.

Just eight months ago, Salah’s departure from Liverpool appeared almost certain after the Egypt forward spoke about feeling that some people inside the club did not want him to stay. His decision to announce his exit early, in March, gave the 34-year-old and his agent, Ramy Abbas, plenty of time to negotiate with interested clubs. Even so, his eventual destination remained unclear until the final days.

The move is particularly striking because Salah had been among the leading candidates for the Ballon d’Or only a year earlier. He had contributed to 61 goals during Liverpool’s Premier League title-winning campaign and was regarded as one of the most influential forwards in European football.

However, the following season brought a significant and unexpected decline in his attacking output. His goal contributions fell by 45%, while he no longer benefited from the same level of support he had previously received from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz. As a result, Salah appeared less influential in relation to his exceptional salary.

Horncastle described the contrast as a notable one: a player who had been in contention for the Ballon d’Or only 12 months earlier had now moved to Trabzonspor, a transfer that does not necessarily reflect the standing he once held at the summit of European football.

The move should not be interpreted as a criticism of the Turkish Super Lig or of Trabzonspor, the article argues. If Salah remains the same player who performed at such a high level in 2025, then Trabzonspor’s success in signing him would instead represent a major achievement for the club.

European football’s leading clubs have also changed their priorities. Real Madrid, which might have viewed Salah as a “Galactico” several years ago, now has a different set of calculations. Barcelona are building their future around Lamine Yamal, Bayern Munich are relying on Michael Olise, and Paris Saint-Germain have developed a group of young talents including Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola. Milan, meanwhile, have Christian Pulisic.

That changing landscape means Salah’s transfer is unlike the moves made by two other global stars, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Ronaldo joined a Saudi Arabian project in which he became one of the most prominent sporting faces of the country’s Vision 2030 programme. Messi moved to Inter Miami as part of an effort to expand football’s presence in South Florida ahead of the United States hosting the 2026 World Cup, according to the article.

Salah’s switch to Trabzonspor, by contrast, raises a more direct sporting question: has his level begun to move closer to that of the Turkish league, ranked ninth in Europe, rather than remaining aligned with the continent’s strongest competitions?

For a player who was recently considered one of the defining figures of the European game, the destination marks a substantial change in perception. At the same time, it gives Trabzonspor the opportunity to secure a player whose reputation was built at the highest level and whose successful arrival would be one of the most significant signings in the club’s history.