First Contact Was Initiated by Us
Trabzonspor Chairman Ertuğrul Doğan revealed that the first contact regarding Mohamed Salah's transfer was initiated by the club. He stated that they have been following Salah since the World Cup, and initial discussions took place with other clubs before Turkey's other teams withdrew from the transfer. The process, which took about five to six days, culminated in an agreement after a Zoom meeting with Salah, who was on vacation in Mikonos. Doğan noted that the health check-up in Istanbul and the 10,000 people gathering at Atatürk Airport were significant factors.
How Will the Cost Be Covered?
Trabzonspor announced that they will guarantee a total of 17 million euros in payments to Salah, including 10 million euros annually and 7 million euros for the signing bonus. Doğan acknowledged that this amount represents a significant financial burden in Turkey but emphasized that 70% of the salary is already covered by combined sales. The club claimed to have set a record in this area, citing 25,000 combined sales announced on August 15. Additionally, Doğan confirmed that the club will receive 20% of revenue from products bearing Salah's name. He also mentioned that some businesspeople have expressed interest in contributing between 500,000 and 1 million euros.
Our Youth Player Strategy Hasn't Changed
Doğan stated that Salah's transfer did not affect the club's youth player strategy. He emphasized that the two strategies complement each other, with experienced players serving as role models for the young. Doğan noted that the transfer of six African players in the past 14 months resulted from the club's scout network, and similar efforts are underway in Central Asia and the Turkic states. He highlighted that Trabzonspor's 110 million euro player sales in the last year represent a record for both the club and Turkish football.
