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For the first time in over nine years, Mohamed Salah stepped onto the pitch on Saturday wearing a club shirt other than Liverpool's. The Egyptian star embarked on a new journey in Türkiye, donning Trabzonspor's claret and blue colors for his debut against Kasımpaşa.
Salah was welcomed by a massive crowd of supporters upon landing at Trabzon airport on Aug. 5, though his first appearance in the Süper Lig was met with jeers and taunts—Trabzonspor were the away side and Kasımpaşa fans delivered a predictably hostile reception in Istanbul.
The 34-year-old did not feature in the starting lineup, having missed all of preseason due to his late arrival and barely getting any proper training time. In fact, Saturday evening in Istanbul marked Salah's first competitive outing since Egypt's World Cup exit against Argentina on July 7.
However, when Salah came off the bench at the 58-minute mark—a response to Kasımpaşa leveling at 1–1 via Adrian Benedyczak's penalty just moments before—he still managed to leave a positive impression given the circumstances.
There was no debut goal or decisive contribution to earn Trabzonspor a winner—the match ended 1–1. Nevertheless, Salah showed some encouraging signs that indicate once he gets up to full fitness, he could prove valuable in helping the club challenge the entrenched hierarchy and dominance in Turkish football.
Salah wasted no time creating a chance, driving down the right wing and delivering a cross for striker Paul Onauchu. He later generated another opportunity from a wide free kick that compelled Kasımpaşa goalkeeper Andreas Gianniotis into a save, and also sent a volley wide of the post in the 77th minute.
Salah Impresses Local Media
Salah was able to secure a more financially rewarding deal with Trabzonspor than he could have obtained at clubs in more prominent western European leagues. Yet this did not look like the move of an overpaid veteran simply running down the clock until retirement.
Reactions from Turkish media were largely favorable.
Fotospor described Salah as "enthusiastic" and noted he is already "standing out." Anadolu credited him with producing Trabzonspor's "best chance" of the game.
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Ultimately, Trabzonspor are hoping Salah's two-year stint with the club—which may not be extended given he will turn 36 shortly before it concludes in 2028—will propel them into title-contending territory.
This was Türkiye's dominant force from the latter half of the 1970s through the early 1980s, claiming the Süper Lig title six times in nine years. However, the 2021–22 campaign remains their only other league championship in the past 42 years. Türkiye's traditional powerhouses—Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş—appeared to be losing their grip when İstanbul Başakşehir and Trabzonspor each claimed the title during a three-season stretch between 2019 and 2022. But Galatasaray have lifted the trophy every year since, chasing a fifth consecutive crown in 2026–27, with Fenerbahçe finishing as runners-up each time.
Trabzonspor ended last season in third place, earning a spot in the 2026–27 Europa League. They have not featured in the Champions League beyond the qualifying stages since 2011–12. Only a first-place finish guarantees direct entry, while second place is sufficient to enter the qualifiers.