Besiktas president Serdar Adali has confirmed that Mohamed Salah has reached an agreement to join the Turkish club this summer, but the transfer is now in jeopardy due to demands from the player’s agent. Salah became a free agent after his contract with Liverpool expired at the end of June, sparking significant interest from several clubs.
Adali revealed to Ismael Mahmoud that Salah had given his approval after speaking with head coach Vincenzo Italiano and the sporting director. Initially, the agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, responded positively to Besiktas’s proposal. However, following reports in the media suggesting the transfer was complete, the agent allegedly increased his commission request to 35%, a figure Adali stated the club finds unacceptable. Adali also expressed belief that Salah himself is unaware of the inflated demands.
The club itself has attempted to distance itself from specific reports circulating in the Turkish media. A statement released on Besiktas’s official social media channels dismissed claims made by journalist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu regarding the transfer process and conditions as “products of imagination.” The statement accused Sabuncuoğlu of consistently disseminating fabricated news and urged fans to rely solely on official club communications for accurate information.
Salah, 31, scored 12 goals in 41 appearances for Liverpool across all competitions last season. While Besiktas emerged as a potential destination, the Egyptian international has also been linked with moves to Major League Soccer and the Saudi Pro League. His agent recently indicated on social media platform X that a final decision regarding his future has not yet been made, stating, “We still do not know where Mohamed will play next season but we may know very soon.” Issa also emphasized that they do not engage in discussions with clubs Salah would not be interested in joining.
The situation remains fluid, with the future of the transfer hinging on a resolution between Besiktas and Salah’s agent. The club’s willingness to negotiate and the agent’s flexibility will ultimately determine whether Salah will be playing in the Süper Lig next season.
