English Premier League
Trabzonspor president says Mohamed Salah has Turkey ‘sleeping and waking’ to his name
Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan says Mohamed Salah’s arrival at the Turkish club has created an extraordinary wave of excitement, with supporters in Trabzon “sleeping and waking” to the Liverpool forward’s name.
Salah joined Trabzonspor this summer after bringing his historic spell with Liverpool to an end, and Dogan believes the deal has already had an impact far beyond football.
Speaking to ON Sport presenter Mirihan Amr, Dogan said: “The Turkish people in Trabzon sleep and wake up to the name Mohamed Salah. The fans are living in a special emotional state after completing the deal.”
He added that the club was enjoying a period of intense excitement while placing particular value on Salah’s character as well as his ability on the pitch.
“We are living these happy moments with great enthusiasm. We believe that we have won a deal for a person who is the best kind of human being,” said Dogan.
The Trabzonspor president also described Salah as one of the leading players in world football and said the Egyptian had made an immediate impression among his new team-mates.
“Salah is one of the most important players in the world, if he is not the best player in the world,” Dogan said. “From his first day in Trabzon, he created a beautiful atmosphere with his friends and team-mates at the Turkish club.”
Dogan believes Salah’s transfer could strengthen Trabzonspor in areas outside the sport itself. He said the player’s presence represented a source of joy for the wider Muslim world and could have a positive influence across a range of fields.
“The arrival of Mohamed Salah supports us in many things outside football,” he said. “It is a joy for the Islamic world, and it will also affect us positively in every field.”
Salah’s move could also help improve ties between Egypt and Turkey, according to Dogan, who expects the player to become a symbol of closer relations between the two countries.
“Salah will be a bridge for bringing Egypt and Turkey closer together and strengthening relations between them,” he said. “We are living in a state of passion and enthusiasm, and there is no doubt that his impact on the football side will be extremely significant.”
The Trabzonspor president also predicted that the transfer would attract more Egyptian visitors to the city, with supporters travelling to watch Salah in competitive action for his new club.
“I expect the presence of Egyptian tourists in Trabzon to increase in order to watch Mohamed Salah in matches,” Dogan said.
Dogan’s comments underline the level of anticipation surrounding Salah’s first season with Trabzonspor following the conclusion of his long and successful period with Liverpool.
