Carragher Slams Salah's Transfer
The former Liverpool defender believes Mohamed Salah made a mistake by joining Trabzonspor and should have chosen a more prestigious club like Milan or Juventus.
The former Liverpool defender believes Mohamed Salah made a mistake by joining Trabzonspor and should have chosen a more prestigious club like Milan or Juventus.
Mohamed Salah officially signed for Turkish club Trabzonspor on August 6, 2026, committing to a contract until June 2028, as confirmed by Fabrizio Romano. The transfer sparked strong reactions, with former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher among the most vocal critics, who believes the Egyptian forward has taken a step backward in his career.
In an interview with Football Ramble, as reported by Goal.com, Carragher expressed disbelief that the 34-year-old decided to leave the circle of Europe's top five leagues. "I never believed he would go to the Saudi Pro League, because, first of all, he's too good for that. I think he can play in Serie A. Turkey, for me, is too low a level," Carragher said.
While he acknowledges that Salah will still be able to put up numbers in Turkey, the former Anfield defender is disappointed that he didn't follow the path of Cristiano Ronaldo and stay at a prestigious club. "I was convinced he would end up at AC Milan or Juventus or somewhere similar; maybe his wage demands were the issue," Carragher added. "He's like Ronaldo, so motivated, numbers mean so much to him. I thought he would want to play at a truly prestigious club."
The core of Carragher's criticism lies in his belief that Salah is sacrificing visibility and high-level competition for a lucrative contract in a less demanding league. To facilitate the transfer, Trabzonspor, according to Goal.com, put together a lucrative package worth €17 million per year. That's a significant amount, though less than the £400,000 a week he was earning at Liverpool until recently.
"Obviously, his wage demands put off several clubs, but I thought he could lower those demands a bit to get a better club," Carragher continued. "Going to AC Milan or Juventus, playing at the San Siro, still playing in big matches, still playing in Europe. Turkey just seems... I just think he's better than that."
Despite the criticism, Salah is fully committed to his new adventure in northern Turkey, where he will join former Premier League stars like Andre Onana, on loan from Manchester United, and Stefan Savić, a former Manchester City player, at Akyazi Arena. Trabzonspor will play in the Europa League next season, which adds an extra challenge for the Egyptian forward. The Egyptian King leaves behind a legendary legacy on Merseyside, having won all the major trophies.
The reception Salah received at Istanbul Atatürk Airport suggests he will be treated like a deity in his new home. Trabzonspor desperately wants to reclaim the domestic title, last won in 2022, and is betting that Salah will bridge the gap to rivals Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe. Last season, the club finished third in the Super Lig.
