On Friday, widespread rumours out of Turkey broke claiming that Mohamed Salah’s next club would be Besiktas (come to Besiktas) after the 34-year-old Egyptian superstar was said to have agreed a €10M per season contract. It didn’t take long, though, for a confusing wave of denials to follow.
Salah’s agent Ramy Abbas took to social media to say he didn’t yet know where Salah would play next season—and to make of that what you will. Then Besiktas put out a statement saying they hadn’t signed him—an attempt to placate a fanbase that has been chanting Salah’s name at the unveiling of other players.
Now, Besiktas president Serdal Adali has made a public statement that’s bound to cause some waves, claiming that Salah had in fact at least verbally agreed to a deal only for his agent Abbas to then increase his commission ask to 35% which the club saw as extortionate causing them to pull out.
“The agent raised his commission to unbelievable figures, reaching about 35%,” Adali claimed earlier today. “From our side, such a percentage cannot be accepted under any circumstances and we do not believe that Salah is aware of these figures [as] we are only negotiating with Ramy Abbas.
“Mohamed Salah had given his approval for this transfer, and his agent initially responded positively to our offer. Salah spoke to our technical director and sporting director and gave his approval, but later, when it was written in the media the transfer had been completed, the agent raised the financial demands.”
With the World Cup ending today, many cubs having begun pre-season preparations, and it looking as though Salah had all but signed for Besiktas—assuming, of course, Adali’s claims are fair and accurate—it would certainly seem as though it does leave Salah’s immediate future very much in doubt.