Mohamed Salah was jokingly offered a plot of land in Araklı by the town’s mayor during an advertising shoot in Turkey, with the local official warning that climate change could make life in Egypt increasingly difficult during the summer months.
The exchange between Salah and Araklı mayor Huseyin Avni Coskun Cebi took place while the Egypt captain was filming a commercial in the district, which is part of Trabzon province on Turkey’s Black Sea coast.
It quickly became a talking point in Turkey after footage and accounts of the conversation spread across social media, prompting a wide range of reactions.
According to Turkish website 61saat, Cebi told Salah: “Despite the beauty of Egypt, its people suffer from poverty. Climate change is destroying the world, and in the future it will become difficult to live in Egypt during the summer months. Our region, on the other hand, will be suitable for living and will be less affected by the consequences of climate change.”
The mayor then made his offer in a light-hearted tone, saying: “Let us give you a beautiful piece of land, and you will find a place in a wonderful geographical location, away from climate change.”
The interaction ended with a friendly handshake. Salah responded with a broad smile but has not made any official comment about the proposed plot.
The meeting came only a few days after Trabzonspor officially announced the signing of the Egypt captain, a move that surprised supporters in both Turkey and Egypt because of Salah’s status as one of the leading figures in world football.
Salah’s arrival at Trabzonspor has attracted considerable attention in Turkey, given his international profile and standing in the game. The announcement also made the commercial appearance in Araklı more prominent, with the mayor’s comments turning what had been a routine filming session into a widely discussed local story.
Cebi’s remarks focused on the contrast between Egypt and the Black Sea region, presenting Araklı as a future refuge from the effects of climate change. His invitation was delivered as a joke rather than a formal sporting or residential proposal, and there is no indication that Salah accepted the offer.
The Egyptian forward’s smile and handshake brought the brief exchange to a close, while the absence of any response from him means the mayor’s suggestion remains only a humorous public invitation.
