Mohamed Salah says he joined Trabzonspor because he wanted a fresh challenge after an exceptional nine-year spell at Liverpool, and has set his sights on winning trophies with the Turkish club, including European silverware.
The Egypt captain discussed his move in his first extended interview with Trabzonspor’s official YouTube channel, explaining the thinking behind his decision, the extraordinary welcome he received and the ambitions he has brought with him to Turkey.
Salah said motivation and ambition had been the driving forces throughout his career. Despite everything he has achieved, he believes continued progress depends on setting new targets.
He said he had been searching for a project that would challenge him again and found that opportunity at Trabzonspor. His ambition is to help the club compete for the league title and, above all, to win a European trophy.
When he first learned of Trabzonspor’s interest, Salah immediately began researching the city and looking for its best places to visit.
He said his previous experiences in football-loving cities, including Liverpool and Florence, had shaped his view that clubs based in communities where football is central can offer a different atmosphere from those in capital cities. That was one reason he became enthusiastic about Trabzonspor from the outset. He even began searching for the city’s best restaurants.
The club president also played an important part in persuading him to make the move. Salah said he was particularly impressed by the scale of the club’s ambition and by the plans being developed for the coming years.
The president’s comments about the passion and support of Trabzonspor’s fans stayed with him, although Salah admitted he had not expected to see that enthusiasm on such an extraordinary scale. He was met by a huge reception at the airport and received another emotional welcome at the stadium.
Salah said the administration’s determination to compete for trophies and achieve major success was the factor that convinced him most.
‘A rare’ reception
The welcome in Trabzon was among the most affecting moments of Salah’s career, even though he does not consider himself particularly emotional.
He said seeing the supporters waiting at the airport made him feel that something missing had finally been completed. He had never expected such a reception, either at the airport or inside the stadium.
The scale of the support was especially striking because it came before he had played a single match for the club. Salah said the experience left him extremely happy and deeply moved.
Former Liverpool team-mates and many of his friends contacted him after seeing the scenes. He remains in touch with several Liverpool players, including Dominik Szoboszlai, and said they told him they had never seen a player welcomed in that way before making his debut for a new club.
Videos of the reception spread widely online and were watched by people around the world.
A future meeting with Liverpool in a Trabzonspor shirt would be difficult for Salah. He spent nine years at the English club and formed an exceptional bond with the city and its supporters, meaning a game against his former team would bring mixed emotions.
From four buses to the top
Salah also reflected on the early years of his career, recalling the daily journey to training when he had to take four buses.
He said the child he was then is still part of him today. His hunger has not changed, and he continues to believe that nobody can reach the top without a clear objective that demands daily work.
That same ambition, he said, was the real reason behind his move to Trabzonspor. He wants to add another significant achievement to his career.
His family played a major role in his development. Salah revealed that his mother initially did not want him to pursue professional football because she was worried about his safety and future.
She was upset when he left home in the morning and returned late at night, and she feared that a career in football offered no guarantees. His father supported him from the beginning, while his mother also stood behind him, although her support was shaped by concern for her son.
Salah said he did not feel he was making sacrifices at the time because he enjoyed every moment on the pitch.
He also explained that he never tries to escape problems. Instead, he prefers to confront them and search for solutions. Many people run from crises because they appear too difficult, but he has learned that understanding a problem is the first step towards resolving it.
Developing his personality and removing some negative traits helped him adapt to different cultures during spells in Egypt, Switzerland, Italy and England, and now Turkey.
One of his biggest dreams when he left Egypt was to achieve something unprecedented for an Egyptian footballer. He said he feels proud when children in Egypt and across Africa draw hope from his journey, describing that influence as more valuable than any trophy because his achievements have become a source of inspiration.
What he misses most about Egypt is not its food but its atmosphere. Salah said he loves Egyptians’ sense of humour and enjoys sitting on his balcony or in a car, watching people and the way they interact. Even breathing Egyptian air gives him a special feeling.
If he could meet his younger self at the start of his career, Salah said he would explain that every difficulty had been worthwhile because it led to an extraordinary journey and major achievements. He remains proud of every stage of his career.
One ritual has remained unchanged throughout nearly 20 years in football: he calls his mother before every match.
Salah ended by asking Trabzonspor supporters to stay behind the team throughout the season, particularly during difficult periods. He said every player would give everything to win trophies and repeated his dream of making the fans happy with European success while competing strongly for the league title, with their support crucial to achieving those ambitions.
