Jose Mourinho’s stark assessment of the Turkish league has resurfaced as Mohamed Salah begins a new chapter with Trabzonspor, with critics questioning whether the move can replicate the success he enjoyed at Liverpool.
Salah has joined Trabzonspor on a two-season agreement, earning an annual salary of up to 17m euros. The arrangement also includes additional benefits linked to advertising, as well as a share of shirt sales that can reach 20%.
The transfer has dominated the sporting agenda in recent hours, prompting a wide range of opinions and predictions about what Salah can achieve in Turkey. The Egyptian remains one of the most prominent figures in Arab football and one of the best-known players in the world, but his decision to leave the highest-profile European leagues has led to debate over the sporting challenges he now faces.
Trabzonspor supporters gave Salah a historic welcome, underlining the excitement surrounding his arrival. However, several experts have criticised the move because they believe the Turkish league is weaker than Europe’s major competitions.
That criticism has revived comments made by Mourinho during his time as manager of Fenerbahce. The Portuguese coach offered a bleak description of the league and its profile outside Turkey.
“No one outside follows this dark and gloomy league,” Mourinho said.
He added: “My league smells bad, but in the end this is my job and I have to adapt to it.”
Those remarks are now being presented as a warning for Salah as he prepares to pursue his next ambitions in Turkish football. The comments do not alter the scale of the welcome he received in Trabzon, but they highlight the doubts surrounding the level of competition and the attention the league attracts internationally.
Salah’s move therefore brings both financial rewards and a significant sporting question. His two-year commitment gives him an opportunity to make a major impact at Trabzonspor, while the salary, advertising-related additions and shirt-sales agreement underline the commercial importance of his arrival.
At the same time, the criticism from experts reflects concerns that playing in Turkey may not provide the same level of competition as the major European leagues. Mourinho’s words have added further weight to that argument, particularly because they came from a manager who experienced the Turkish game while leading Fenerbahce.
For Salah, the challenge will be to maximise the opportunities created by the transfer while responding to doubts about the league’s status. As one of the leading stars in Arab football and a globally recognised name, he is expected to use the move to secure the greatest possible sporting and commercial returns.
The debate over whether he can reproduce his previous achievements is likely to continue, but the scale of his reception means expectations at Trabzonspor are already high. His arrival has generated enormous interest; Mourinho’s old description has ensured that the scrutiny surrounding the transfer will be just as intense.
