Mohamed Salah said he had never experienced anything like the welcome he received from Trabzonspor supporters after about 25,000 fans gathered at Trabzon Airport to greet the Egypt captain.
The forward appeared visibly surprised by the size and enthusiasm of the crowd, describing the scenes as “unbelievable” following his official arrival in Turkey.
Speaking to Turkish website 61saat, Salah said he was delighted to join Trabzonspor and immediately outlined his ambition to achieve success with the club both domestically and in European competition.
“I am very happy to be in this amazing atmosphere. I do not remember seeing anything like this before, and words cannot describe how happy I am,” Salah said.
The reception was one of the biggest public welcomes of his career, according to the player, who said the scale of the gathering had left him struggling to find the right words.
“There are 25,000 people here. This is unbelievable. I have never seen anything like this,” added Salah.
“I have achieved success everywhere, and I want to achieve success with Trabzonspor as well, in the league and in Europe.”
Salah has enjoyed a distinguished career and has established himself as one of the most recognisable footballers in the world. His arrival in Trabzon was met with scenes more commonly associated with a major trophy celebration, as supporters gathered to show their excitement at the prospect of seeing him represent the Turkish club.
Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan praised the fans for creating what he described as a historic occasion and thanked those who had travelled to the airport.
“Mohamed Salah is a global star. We thank the fans who came here. Our supporters showed everyone how a global star should be welcomed,” Dogan said.
The welcome underlined Salah’s status not only as a leading footballer but also as a global sporting icon whose popularity extends beyond individual clubs and competitions.
Attention will now turn from the airport to the pitch, where Trabzonspor supporters will expect the Egypt international to convert the affection shown towards him into performances, victories and trophies.
Salah’s stated targets include success in the Turkish league and on the European stage, giving his arrival an added significance for a club whose fans have already made clear the scale of their expectations.
The scenes in Trabzon also reflected the special connection Salah has built with supporters during a career that has brought him success in different settings. Yet even after those achievements, he said the reception awaiting him in Turkey was unlike anything he had previously encountered.
For Trabzonspor, the immediate challenge will be to match the excitement generated by the player’s arrival once competitive football begins. For Salah, the task is to reward a crowd that made its admiration clear from the moment he landed.
