Erdogan Monitors Salah's Transfer Deal to Besiktas

Mohamed Salah

"The Pharaoh" transfer captures huge attention in Turkey

Events moved quickly at Besiktas as reports emerged that signing Mohamed Salah was no longer just a sporting ambition. It had become a matter followed by senior figures in the Turkish state.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan intervened personally to obtain details of the deal, according to reports from Turkey, asking Besiktas president Serdal Adali for extensive information on the progress of negotiations with the Egyptian star. Erdogan is now following the transfer of Mohamed Salah to Besiktas himself.

High-level political contacts

According to the Turkish newspaper "Sozcu", Turkish President Erdogan requested extensive information from Besiktas president Serdal Adali so he could follow the negotiations with the Egyptian star in person.

Club officials believe indirect government backing could help clear the enormous financial hurdles a deal of this size demands. Besiktas are not content with domestic success alone. They want to dominate the continent.

The same newspaper pointed to Turkish journalist and broadcaster Erdogan Aktas, who revealed in public statements that Salah arrives in Istanbul today, Wednesday, to put the finishing touches to his Besiktas contract. Pull it off, and it would be the biggest transfer in the history of the Turkish league in terms of marketing and fan value.

Vincenzo Italiano Bologna

Italian Intervention to Convince the Egyptian King

Besiktas's management didn't stop at administrative moves. Head coach Vincenzo Italiano threw his full weight behind the effort to sell Salah on his sporting project. According to the newspaper "Fanatik", the Italian coach and the Egyptian star held a private meeting to thrash out the finer technical details, including the structure of the team and the style of play Italiano intends to implement next season.

Italiano used those talks to explain how Salah would be the cornerstone of his attacking plans. He assured the winger that the club aim to go as far as possible in Europe, an ambition that chimes with the competitive mentality Salah honed on English pitches.

This was no mere introduction. The pair touched on the club's future goals and how to turn Besiktas into a striking force on the old continent. That pitch left the player showing growing interest in a fresh challenge after years of brilliance in the Liverpool shirt.

The Obstacle of the Agent and the Financial Negotiations

The optimism hasn't survived contact with the numbers. Negotiations have snagged on the commission owed to agent Ramy Abbas, with sources indicating that Besiktas president Serdal Adali holds strong reservations about the financial terms Abbas has set.

Talks hit a temporary deadlock earlier over the percentage he demanded. Reports confirm that Adali rejected the 35% Abbas wanted, calling it unacceptable under any circumstances. He even questioned whether Mohamed Salah knew the size of the figure being demanded as a personal commission to secure his rights.

Besiktas are now trying to bridge the gap. The Turkish club have sent Abbas an official invitation to a face-to-face meeting in Istanbul, where they hope to thrash out the financial details and cut the percentage to suit their budget and the circumstances.

A huge annual salary sits on the table for the player. At the same time, the management insist the agency fees stay within reasonable, internationally recognised limits.

Mohamed Salah Besiktas (Goal Only)

Uncertainty surrounds the rival bid and the future of the deal

Beşiktaş are still working to nail down the final details, but fresh reports have thrown up a complication. Traditional rivals Galatasaray are trying to gatecrash the race, piling pressure on Adali's board to get the deal over the line as quickly as possible.

Some of those reports claim Salah's agent offered him to Galatasaray. Sources close to the club deny any serious interest at this stage, which only strengthens Beşiktaş's hand as the closest and, so far, the only genuine destination in Turkey.

Expect things to move fast over the coming hours. Fans are waiting on the official announcement that could send follower counts soaring worldwide. Reports suggest Salah may sign a one-year deal with the option of another, handing him plenty of flexibility over his sporting future while ensuring Beşiktaş get him at the peak of his powers.