Mohamed Salah has revived an old dispute with Besiktas after scoring for Trabzonspor and posting a pointed reference to the failed transfer negotiations involving the club.
The Egypt international shared photographs on social media after the match with the caption “Yuzde otuz bes”, which means “35%”. The brief message appeared to target Besiktas president Serdal Adali and the controversy surrounding the commission allegedly requested by Salah’s agent, Ramy Abbas.
Salah has made an excellent start to life with Trabzonspor, scoring nine goals and providing four assists in 11 appearances in all competitions. He added another goal against Besiktas in the 71st minute, but it was his activity after the final whistle that generated the most attention.
The post was a clear reference to an episode from the previous summer, when Besiktas reportedly tried to sign Salah as his time with Liverpool was coming to an end. The discussions failed to produce an agreement, after which Adali publicly criticised the financial demands made by Abbas.
According to the Besiktas president, the player’s representative had sought a commission worth about 35% of the value of the transfer. Those comments placed Abbas at the centre of a public dispute and helped make the figure widely associated with the collapsed negotiations.
By reproducing the number without offering any further explanation, Salah appeared to respond ironically to Adali’s earlier statements. The Egypt forward did not need a lengthy message to bring the disagreement back into the spotlight.
A failed transfer becomes a rivalry storyline
The incident shows how an unsuccessful transfer can continue to influence relations between a player and a club long after negotiations have ended. For Besiktas, the proposed move represented a missed opportunity to sign one of African football’s leading stars.
For Salah, meanwhile, “35%” has become a concise way of addressing the allegations made during the talks. His post came after a significant result against one of Trabzonspor’s rivals, giving the message an added edge.
Salah joined Trabzonspor as a free agent in August 2026 and signed a two-year contract with guaranteed earnings of about 17 million euros per season. His early performances suggest he has settled quickly, with nine goals and four assists from his first 11 matches.
His impact has extended beyond his contribution on the pitch. The social media post demonstrated his willingness to keep pressure on his opponents and ensured that the previous transfer dispute remained part of the conversation surrounding the fixture.
Trabzonspor’s next match will be against Heart of Midlothian in the second matchday of the league phase of the UEFA Conference League.