Is Mohamed Salah Really On His Way to Beşiktaş? Nicolo Schira Reveals the Latest
A major twist has emerged in Beşiktaş’s pursuit of Mohamed Salah. According to Italian journalist Nicolo Schira, negotiations between the Istanbul giants and the Egyptian superstar have advanced to a decisive stage, bringing one of the most sensational transfers in Turkish football history within reach.
Principle agreement reached until 2027
Schira reports that Salah, currently in a free agent situation, is very close to joining Beşiktaş on a deal that would run until 2027. The two parties are said to have reached a principle agreement on the main framework of the contract, with an additional option for the 2028 season included in the package.
This would mean Beşiktaş are not only targeting a short-term marquee signing, but are trying to build a medium-term project with Salah at its core. For a club reshaping its squad and identity, tying a global star down for potentially three seasons would be a clear statement of intent.
Salary package: 12 million euro per year
One of the striking details from the negotiations is the reported salary. Salah is expected to earn around 12 million euro per year if the transfer is finalized. With image rights and other bonuses, the total financial volume of the deal could climb even higher, turning it into one of the most expensive signings ever made by a Turkish club.
Behind the scenes, it is claimed that the overall package, including image rights, would allow Salah to pocket roughly 15 million euro annually, while his agent would receive a commission in the region of 3.5 million euro. These figures underline just how big a financial gamble Beşiktaş are willing to take to bring the Egyptian icon to Istanbul.
Italiano’s personal push to convince Salah
Beşiktaş head coach Vincenzo Italiano is playing a central role in the process. The Italian manager has reportedly been in constant contact with the player, taking an active hand in trying to persuade Salah about the sporting project and his role in it.
Italiano is believed to have outlined a plan where Salah becomes the focal point of the attack, with the team built to maximize his strengths: cutting inside from the right, exploiting tight spaces, and unlocking deep-lying defenses. Club sources suggest that the coach’s persistence and direct communication have moved the negotiations forward at crucial moments.
Board confident the deal will be completed
Within Beşiktaş’s hierarchy there is growing confidence that the transfer can be completed in the coming days. The board is said to be optimistic that the final formalities will be resolved soon, despite some lingering disputes over agent fees and image rights.
From their perspective, the Salah deal is not just another transfer. It is seen as a potential turning point for the club: commercially, in terms of global visibility, and competitively on the pitch.
Ahmet Hassan’s role: “Come to Beşiktaş”
Among those pushing hardest for the transfer is former Egyptian Beşiktaş striker Ahmet Hassan. The ex-forward has long been publicly encouraging Salah with “Come to Beşiktaş” messages and, according to reports, has even spoken directly with him to share his positive experiences at the club.
Ahmet Hassan and another Egyptian who once wore the black-and-white shirt, Mohamed Elneny, left a strong impression in Istanbul with both their character and their performances. Many fans now see Salah as the “king” of Egyptian football and believe it is his turn to become the next Egyptian to mark an era at Beşiktaş.
Image rights and agent fees: the main obstacles
Despite the apparent agreement on salary and contract length, the negotiations are not entirely straightforward. The most sensitive points now appear to be Salah’s image rights and his agent’s commission.
It is claimed that Salah has pushed to secure maximum control over his commercial rights, knowing his global brand value. This significantly increases the overall cost of the deal. At the same time, the agent is said to be seeking a sizable fee for brokering the transfer, which has caused some friction and delays.
Some voices close to the negotiations argue that talk of “agent fee problems” is partly a smokescreen, and that Salah is also carefully waiting to see how Beşiktaş progress in European competition before signing. The suggestion is that the player wants to be sure he is joining a team that can compete at a high level rather than merely chasing a final big contract.
Fans divided: excitement, fatigue and skepticism
Within the fan base, emotions are mixed. A large group is euphoric about the prospect of seeing Salah in black and white and are ready to be patient, believing this would be the biggest and most prestigious signing in club history. For them, no financial sacrifice is too big for a player who could transform both Beşiktaş and the league.
However, there is also a growing sense of fatigue. Some supporters are frustrated with what they see as a “never-ending saga” that risks overshadowing other pressing needs in the squad. In their view, focusing almost exclusively on Salah is delaying crucial reinforcements in midfield, at centre-forward, and on the wings.
Others point out that the team has struggled to break down compact, defensive opponents, even when playing against ten men. They argue that while a superstar winger is attractive, the squad also urgently needs a box-to-box midfielder, a penetrating wide player who can hit the byline, and perhaps another creative force in the middle – areas they feel are being neglected while the club waits on Salah.
Tactical fit: why Salah matters so much
From a footballing perspective, the enthusiasm for Salah is not only about his name. His profile directly addresses a chronic problem for Beşiktaş: opening packed defenses. Salah’s ability to attack one-on-one, cut inside from the right with pace, and create or finish chances from nothing is exactly what the team currently lacks in high-stakes games.
Some fans insist that this is precisely why it is worth waiting: a player of his level can single‑handedly change the outcome of tight matches. Compared to current wingers like Cerny, Rashica or Olaitan, Salah operates on a completely different tier – not only in quality, but also in mentality and experience at the very top of European football.
At the same time, there is awareness that even if Salah arrives, he will not solve every issue. Without a dynamic central midfielder to connect the lines and another winger or attacking midfielder capable of penetrating from the opposite side, the team may still struggle to find balance. For this reason, some argue that recruitment should proceed on parallel tracks, not be entirely dependent on one blockbuster transfer.
Alternative targets and the risk of waiting too long
As the saga drags on, alternative names naturally come into the conversation. Players like Bakayoko have been mentioned as attractive options, especially because they would fit local and foreign player quotas more easily and might allow a more balanced squad construction within financial fair play limits.
Those supporting an alternative strategy warn that the transfer window is finite. In their view, spending weeks locked in negotiations with Salah’s camp could mean missing out on other attainable targets. Their fear is simple: if the Salah transfer collapses late, Beşiktaş could be left scrambling in the final days of the window, forced to settle for stopgap options rather than planned signings.
The emotional side: from euphoria to neutrality
As rumors ebb and flow, the emotional temperature around the deal has shifted. Some supporters, initially hyper-optimistic, say they have now “neutralized” their expectations. They neither fully believe the transfer will happen nor dismiss it; instead, they are trying to protect themselves from disappointment.
Others remain openly skeptical, arguing that at Salah’s age and earning power, he might be motivated more by money than by sporting ambition. There are also fans who strongly oppose the size of the financial package on principle, questioning whether it is right for any player to earn so much when the club is still working to stabilize its finances.
Yet there is also a powerful counter-argument: major clubs occasionally need to take calculated risks to break cycles of mediocrity. For that group, if Salah truly arrives and delivers, every euro spent will be “worth it to the last cent,” given the potential sporting success and global exposure.
How Salah would reshape Beşiktaş’s attack
If the transfer goes through, the impact on Beşiktaş’s attacking structure will be immediate. Salah would almost certainly claim the right wing as his territory, becoming the natural reference point in the final third. The rest of the front line would be built around his movements.
This could mean deploying a striker who thrives on space created by Salah’s inward runs, as well as a left-sided attacker or advanced midfielder capable of attacking the box when Salah drags defenders out of position. Italiano’s preferred style – proactive, possession-based, and aggressive without the ball – would gain a player perfectly suited to fast transitions and high pressing.
In addition, Salah’s presence might reduce the pressure on existing creative players like Orkun and Cerny, who have often been expected to decide games on their own. With defenders forced to double up on Salah, more space would naturally open up for secondary threats.
Commercial and psychological effect
Beyond tactics, Salah’s arrival would be a shockwave in terms of marketing and psychology. Jerseys, sponsorships, international attention – all would spike instantly. Beşiktaş would move into global headlines overnight, increasing its visibility in regions where the league is rarely discussed.
For the dressing room, a signing of this magnitude can work like a signal flare. It tells current players that the club is serious about competing at the highest possible level. It can also tempt other quality players to consider Beşiktaş as a realistic destination. Inside the league, rivals would be forced to respond, potentially triggering a new era of high‑profile transfers to Turkey.
The coming days will be decisive
As things stand, all eyes are on the next few days. The outlines of the agreement – free transfer, contract until 2027 with an option for 2028, around 12 million euro per year, plus substantial image rights and agent fees – are largely in place. The remaining obstacles are technical, financial and psychological: final paperwork, last‑minute demands, and Salah’s own final decision.
If the outstanding issues can be resolved, Turkish football may witness its most spectacular transfer yet, with Salah stepping out at Vodafone Park as Beşiktaş’s new superstar. If not, the club will have to pivot quickly, secure alternative signings, and ensure that a long summer chase does not turn into a sporting handicap.
For now, one thing is clear: whether he ultimately signs or not, the Mohamed Salah saga has already shaped Beşiktaş’s summer – and may yet define its future.