Questions have been mounting in recent hours regarding the possibility of Mohamed Salah making his first appearance in a Trabzonspor shirt when the team faces Kasimpasa in their Turkish Super Lig opener on Saturday evening.
Fans are eagerly awaiting the decision of manager Fatih Tekke regarding the Egyptian star, who joined the club just days ago and has not had a lengthy pre-season preparation with his new teammates.
Included in the Traveling Squad
Salah’s name was included in Trabzonspor’s traveling squad for the match, opening the door for his potential participation—even if only for limited minutes—in his first official game since transferring to the team.
However, the 34-year-old has not yet reached full physical match fitness. Therefore, the most likely scenario is that he will start the match on the bench, with the possibility of being substituted in during the second half depending on the flow of the game.
Europa League Preparations
Even if Salah misses the clash against Kasimpasa, he is expected to be fully ready to participate in Trabzonspor’s upcoming European fixture against Ferencvaros on Thursday, in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League playoff round.
A Historic Transfer and Grand Reception
Trabzonspor pulled off one of the biggest surprises of the transfer window by signing Salah on a free transfer, following the end of his legendary 9-year stint at Liverpool. He signed a two-year contract, with his continuation into the second year tied to achieving specific performance goals.
The club, nicknamed the “Black Sea Storm,” secured the deal after Salah’s negotiations with Besiktas stalled. The Egyptian national team captain received a historic welcome from over 25,000 fans upon his arrival in Turkey.
Salah departed Liverpool after scoring 12 goals and providing 10 assists in his final season. He leaves behind an iconic legacy at Anfield, having won the UEFA Champions League, the Premier League, and numerous other domestic and continental titles.
