Why did Salah leave Liverpool for Türkiye's fourth-most popular club? - ESPN

The scene outside Istanbul's Ataturk Airport on Wednesday afternoon was one of frenzied disbelief. As members of the world's media flanked the doors to the terminal, thousands of Trabzonspor supporters gathered behind metal barriers to catch a glimpse of their new hero.

Amid all the chaos, Mohamed Salah simply smiled. Having spent nearly a decade as Liverpool's «Egyptian King,» Salah is no stranger to receiving a royal reception.

However, as he readied himself to formalize his shock move to Turkish side Trabzonspor, even Salah could have been forgiven for being taken aback by the magnitude of the occasion. Dressed in the club's famous claret and blue shirt and a white baseball cap, the forward tantalized his adoring public, silencing them before raising his arms in the air to the sound of cheers.

It was, perhaps, the first time this summer's strangest transfer appeared to make sense. Trabzonspor shocked the football world Tuesday when they announced they were in talks to sign Salah, who has been a free agent since leaving Liverpool at the end of last season.

It was less than 18 months ago that the Egypt international sat on a throne in the middle of the Anfield turf to announce his lucrative two-year contract extension at Liverpool. At that point, he looked to be at the peak of his powers, poised to continue cementing his remarkable legacy on Merseyside.

So why has Salah, 34, decided to trade the heights of the Premier League for Türkiye's fourth-most popular club? And, with time running out in the transfer window, where does his departure leave Liverpool?

When Salah confirmed back in March that he would be leaving on a free transfer before the final year of his Liverpool contract was up, speculation over his next move