It began with a text sent during the World Cup. Ertugrul Dogan, the president of Trabzonspor, was watching Egypt when he picked up his phone and messaged his manager, Fatih Tekke. “Coach,” it read. “Do you want Mohamed Salah?”
Tekke’s response was immediate enthusiasm, though Trabzonspor’s initial push for Salah went under the radar with Besiktas looking most likely to land the former Liverpool striker. In Turkish football, Istanbul’s Big Three – Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas – have long held monopoly on the Super Lig’s marquee signings.
