Ertugrul Dogan says Mohamed Salah’s arrival at Trabzonspor has created an extraordinary sense of excitement among supporters in Turkey, with the club president predicting the Egyptian forward’s influence will extend well beyond football.
Salah joined Trabzonspor this summer after bringing his historic spell with Liverpool to an end. Speaking to ON Sport presenter Mirihan Amr, Dogan described the transfer as a major moment for the club and said supporters in Trabzon were celebrating the signing with exceptional enthusiasm.
“The Turkish people in Trabzon sleep and wake up to the name Mohamed Salah,” said Dogan. “The fans are living in a special emotional state after completing the deal.”
The Trabzonspor president said the club was enjoying the attention surrounding the signing and believed it had secured not only an outstanding player but also a person of exceptional character.
“We are experiencing these happy moments with great enthusiasm,” he added. “We believe that we have secured a human signing for the best personality.”
Dogan also spoke in highly ambitious terms about Salah’s status in world football. He said the forward was among the most important players on the planet and suggested he could even be considered the best.
“Salah is one of the most important players in the world, if not the number one in the world,” he said.
According to Dogan, Salah had already made a positive impression within the squad from his first day in Trabzon. The president said the Egyptian had helped create a warm atmosphere with his friends and team-mates at the Turkish club.
“He has created beautiful surroundings with his friends and team-mates at the Turkish club from his first day in Trabzon,” said Dogan.
The club president believes Salah’s transfer could also bring benefits outside the sporting sphere. He said the player’s presence would strengthen Trabzonspor in several areas beyond football and described the move as a source of happiness for the wider Muslim world.
“Mohamed Salah’s move to us supports us in many things outside football,” Dogan said. “It is a joy for the Islamic world, and it will affect us positively in every field.”
Dogan further suggested that Salah could help strengthen the relationship between Egypt and Turkey. He said the club was currently experiencing considerable passion and excitement, while expecting the forward’s impact on the football side to be particularly significant.
“Salah will be a bridge for bringing Egypt and Turkey closer together and strengthening relations between the two countries,” he said. “We are living in a state of passion and enthusiasm, and there is no doubt that his impact on the football side will be enormous.”
The president also forecast an increase in the number of Egyptian visitors travelling to Trabzon.
“I expect the presence of Egyptian tourists in Trabzon to increase so they can watch Mohamed Salah in matches,” Dogan said.
The transfer marks the beginning of Salah’s new chapter after his highly significant period with Liverpool, while Trabzonspor are now preparing to benefit from the attention generated by one of the world’s most recognisable footballers.
