Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has personally stepped into Besiktas’ bid to sign Mohamed Salah in what could become the biggest transfer in Turkish league history, according to reports in Istanbul.
Turkish newspaper Zaman says the proposed move for the Egypt and Liverpool star is no longer being handled solely as a sporting matter by Besiktas executives, but has attracted close attention from senior figures in the Turkish state.
The report claims President Erdogan has requested a detailed briefing from Besiktas president Serdal Adalı on the status of negotiations with Salah and is “following all aspects” of the proposed transfer to Istanbul.
If completed, the deal would be the most high-profile and financially significant signing ever made by a Turkish club, both in market value and global fan interest, the paper adds.
Presidential involvement in Besiktas talks
Zaman reports that Erdogan intervened directly, asking Adalı for a comprehensive report on discussions with Salah’s camp.
The president is said to be monitoring “all the details” of the operation, which, if successful, would bring one of world football’s most recognisable forwards to the Turkish Super Lig.
While there is no official confirmation from the presidential office or from Besiktas, the suggestion of Erdogan’s involvement underlines the political and symbolic weight being attached to the potential transfer, beyond its sporting significance.
Club insiders cited by the paper believe this form of indirect government backing could help Besiktas overcome major financial hurdles associated with such a high-cost move.
Financial obstacles and continental ambitions
Besiktas officials are described as viewing the president’s interest as a possible lever in navigating the substantial financial challenges involved.
The Istanbul club, historically one of Turkey’s “big three”, is portrayed as seeking not only to reassert domestic dominance but also to build a squad capable of competing seriously in European competitions.
The perceived support from the highest level of government is seen as potentially crucial in structuring a package that could meet Salah’s salary expectations and any transfer fee involved, as well as sponsorship or commercial arrangements linked to his arrival.
Salah ‘expected in Istanbul’ to finalise contract
In a further development, Turkish journalist and TV presenter Erdogan Aktas is quoted by Zaman as saying that Salah is due to travel to Istanbul next Wednesday to put the final touches on his contract with Besiktas.
Aktas claims the Egyptian forward’s visit would be aimed at concluding negotiations and formalising the agreement, although no club has yet made any official announcement.
Should the transfer be completed, Zaman says it would become the largest deal in Turkish Super Lig history in terms of market value and the level of global attention it generates.
The prospect of Salah, one of the Premier League’s most prolific attackers in recent years, joining Besiktas has already sparked intense speculation among Turkish fans and media, amid questions over how the club could finance such a move and what it would mean for the competitive balance of the league.
For now, the reported personal interest of President Erdogan – and the claim that Salah is expected in Istanbul within days – has only heightened anticipation around a transfer that would transform both Besiktas’ profile and the wider image of Turkish football.
