Mohamed Salah arrival sparks unprecedented excitement in Trabzon, says club president

Ertugrul Dogan says Mohamed Salah’s arrival at Trabzonspor has created a surge of excitement in the Turkish city, with supporters reportedly “sleeping and waking” to the Egyptian forward’s name.

Salah joined Trabzonspor this summer after bringing his historic spell with Liverpool to an end, and Dogan believes the transfer has made a significant impact both inside and outside football.

Speaking to ON Sport presenter Mirihan Amr, Trabzonspor president Dogan said: “The Turkish people in Trabzon sleep and wake up to the name Mohamed Salah. The fans are living in a special state of high morale after completing the deal.”

Dogan said the club was enjoying the moment with considerable enthusiasm and described the signing as a success on a personal and human level as well as a sporting one.

“We are living these happy moments with great excitement,” he said. “We believe that we have won the signing of a human being who represents the best kind of person.”

The Trabzonspor president also praised Salah’s status in world football and said the forward had already made a positive impression among his new team-mates.

“Salah is one of the most important players in the world, if not the best 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.”

Salah’s arrival is also expected to provide benefits beyond performances on the pitch, according to Dogan. He said the transfer could help Trabzonspor in a number of areas away from football and described the player’s presence as a source of happiness for the wider Islamic world.

“Mohamed Salah’s move to us supports us in many things outside football,” he said. “It is a joy for the Islamic world, and it will have a positive impact on us in every field.”

Dogan further suggested that Salah’s move could help strengthen ties between Egypt and Turkey. He said the club was experiencing a heightened level of passion and anticipation, while expressing confidence that the player would have a major influence on the sporting side of the organisation.

“Salah will be a bridge for bringing Egypt and Turkey closer together and strengthening relations between them,” Dogan said. “We are living in a state of passion and enthusiasm, and there is no doubt that his impact on the footballing side will be extremely significant.”

The president also expects the signing to affect tourism in Trabzon, with Egyptian supporters potentially travelling to the city to watch Salah play for his new club.

“I expect the number of Egyptian tourists in Trabzon to increase so they can watch Mohamed Salah in matches,” Dogan said.

Salah’s move followed the conclusion of his long-standing and highly successful association with Liverpool, where he established himself as one of the world’s leading footballers. His transfer to Trabzonspor has now generated considerable optimism among the club’s supporters and is being viewed by its president as an opportunity to raise the profile of both the team and the city.