Erdogan invites Trabzonspor’s Mohamed Salah and family to presidential palace

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has invited Egyptian footballer Mohamed Salah and his family to the presidential palace in Ankara for a personal meeting.

According to Turkish website 61 Saat, Erdogan asked for arrangements to be made for the meeting at the earliest possible opportunity. The invitation followed a discussion with Ertugrul Dogan, president of Trabzonspor, during which the Turkish leader asked whether a private meeting with the player could be organised.

Erdogan subsequently extended a direct invitation to Salah and his family to visit the presidential palace.

The issue was raised during Dogan’s visit to the Turkish president, with Salah’s possible visit becoming a central part of their conversation.

Any meeting would be expected to attract considerable attention in both Turkey and Egypt. Salah is highly popular in both countries, while an invitation to the presidential palace would underline the level of interest surrounding the Egyptian football star.