Mohamed Salah weighs Besiktas free-transfer move as marketing expert outlines reasons for rejecting Saudi switch

Mohamed Salah is edging towards a move to Besiktas on a free transfer this summer, with a leading marketing consultant claiming the Egyptian forward prefers to end his career in Europe rather than join the Saudi Pro League.

The 32-year-old has received a formal two-year contract offer from the Turkish club, under which he would earn an annual salary of around €15m.

According to Amr El-Rawy, a marketing consultant for the Premier League who was speaking to Egyptian television channel Al-Nahar, the proposed deal has moved Salah close to a new chapter in his career with the Istanbul side.

El-Rawy said Salah’s priority at this stage is how he finishes his professional journey, rather than securing a move to a more lucrative league.

“Mohamed Salah wants to conclude his career in an elegant and satisfying way, especially since he no longer needs to provide further proof to anyone,” El-Rawy said.

Salah protecting ‘legacy’ in England

El-Rawy explained that Salah had ruled out joining another club in the Premier League out of respect for his time at Liverpool and his relationship with the club’s supporters.

He said: “Salah rejected the idea of moving to any other club in the Premier League, because he is keen to preserve his great legacy in England and his good relationship with Liverpool fans.”

Salah has become one of Liverpool’s most iconic modern players, winning the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, FA Cup and EFL Cup during his time at Anfield, and setting multiple scoring records in the process.

By avoiding a move to a domestic rival, El-Rawy suggested, Salah is seeking to ensure that legacy remains intact.

Saudi Pro League ‘ruled out’

El-Rawy also stated that Salah had consciously dismissed the possibility of joining the Saudi Pro League, despite the growing financial power of clubs in the Gulf state.

He said Salah has “excluded the Saudi league option because he insists on continuing in Europe”, adding that this stance had made Besiktas “the ideal destination for him”.

The comments suggest that, for Salah, remaining within European football’s competitive structure is a key factor, even in the latter stages of his career.

Besiktas, one of Turkey’s most prominent clubs, would offer Salah the chance to compete for domestic honours in the Super Lig and play in European competitions, while still allowing him to retain a high profile on the continent.

No mention was made of any rival European offers in El-Rawy’s remarks, nor of any negotiations beyond the formal proposal already submitted by Besiktas.

However, his intervention underlines why a move to Turkey is currently being viewed as the most likely next step for Salah, as he looks to shape the final phase of a career that has made him one of Africa’s most successful footballers.