Following the completion of his two-year contract signing with Trabzonspor in Turkey’s top-tier Süper Lig, Mohamed Salah received an exceptionally warm welcome. Over 20,000 passionate fans greeted him with fireworks and a vibrant atmosphere, marking a memorable start to his tenure with the club.
More recently, the 34-year-old Egyptian national team forward, described as a former Liverpool player, participated in a promotional photoshoot. This event saw him alongside Mr. Huseyin Avni Coskun Cebi, the Mayor of Araklı district within Trabzon province. It was during this occasion that Salah drew significant attention due to his visibly surprised reaction to a unique gift from the local authorities.
Unexpectedly, the Mayor shifted the conversation to climate change, highlighting the rising global temperatures and their threat to many regions worldwide, including Egypt. He remarked to Salah, “In the future, living in Egypt during the summer will become difficult. Meanwhile, our region will be one of the least affected by climate change.”
What truly astonished the player was the immediate gift presented thereafter. The Mayor offered Salah a plot of land in the area, emphasizing its value as an excellent place for Salah’s children and grandchildren, a location where they would not have to worry about water scarcity and would be minimally impacted by climate change.
Images and videos of Salah repeatedly stroking his beard, displaying a look of utter bewilderment, quickly went viral across social media platforms. It was widely believed that the Egyptian national team captain had not anticipated his commercial photoshoot would evolve into a discussion on climate change, culminating in such an extraordinary and unconventional gift.
The plot of land was presented alongside the highly lucrative contract Salah had just signed with Trabzonspor on August 6th. According to reports from Sports Illustrated, Salah has become the highest-paid player in the history of the Turkish Süper Lig. His deal is valued at a staggering €17 million (approximately $19.6 million USD), comprising a €10 million annual base salary and an additional €7 million in annual bonuses. Further incentives could potentially increase his earnings even more.
