Why Mohamed Salah has joined Trabzonspor – and it’s not just about the 50 per cent wage rise

Mohamed Salah had plenty more reasons to join Trabzonspor rather than just a bumper pay rise, says talkSPORT’s Andy Brassell.

Salah completed a free transfer to the Turkish club last Tuesday, penning a two-year deal.

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It is an impressively lucrative move for Salah as he will receive a monster salary of £14.5million a season.

Salah stands to rake in even more funds as he will earn a 20 per cent share of products sold in his name along with conditional bonuses.

Despite the dizzying deal, European football expert Brassell believes there was far more to Salah’s decision-making process ahead of joining Trabzonspor.

Andy Brassell explains why Mohamed Salah joined Trabzonspor

“Clearly, he could have made more in Saudi Arabia,” Brassell said on talkSORT’s Trans Euro Express.

“But clearly, he never really seemed to show any inclination to go out there. And for them to be able to sign an Arab superstar, for the Saudi Pro League it would have been absolutely huge. I suspect that’s part of it as well.

“Nicolas Anelka spoke in the past about when he went to Fenerbahce, a huge part of it was at that point in his life, he wanted to live and play in a Muslim country. I suspect that’s at least part of it for Mo Salah as well.

“But for so many players, and we’re seeing prime age players, players younger than Mo Salah going to big Turkish Super Lig clubs. It’s the fact that you can get paid better than you can in western Europe without having to leave the competitiveness of European football and UEFA club competitions, I think that’s really key as well.”

This summer has proven especially eye-catching when it comes to younger players moving to big Turkish clubs.

One example is former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood, who joined Fenerbahce from Marseille for approximately £38m at just 24 years of age.

Fenerbahce have also snapped up centre-back Nathan Ake while Galatasaray are targeting Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli, who is 25 years old.

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No matter their age, all will be vying for the Turkish Super Lig title.

It is a trophy Galatasaray have had a vice-like grip on, having won four consecutive league crowns.

How Mohamed Salah is hoping to inspire Trabzonspor to former glories

Prior to Galatasaray’s run, the last team to have had the league title in their possession was Trabzonspor, who accomplished the feat in 2021/22.

Aside from their recent success, Trabzonspor boasts a fan base unlike any other, something which Salah has already experienced as thousands turned out to welcome him at the airport and even more attended his unveiling at their stadium.

“They’re passionately supported out there on the Black Sea in a city that leaves and breathes football, which must be part of it as well,” Brassell continued.

“I think even for experienced players, the minute you get off the plane and see all the fans, it’s a pinch-me moment.

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“You get to play in busy stadiums that are so, so passionate in a level that even coming from the Premier League, you just can’t understand. That is a huge part of it.”

It’s not just the Turkish Super Lig that Salah and his new teammates will be eyeing off.

Thanks to their third-place finish last term, Trabzonspor qualified for the Europa League play-off round and will face either Hungarian side Ferencvaros or Polish outfit Gornik Zabrze.

Galatasaray was the first and remains the only Turkish club to have won the competition, doing so in 2000.

But the marquee signing of Salah, who scored over 250 goals for Liverpool, could be the perfect tonic to help Trabzonspor win their first European trophy in history.