"Heartbroken" & "Abandoned": The real story behind Mo Salah's controversial move to Turkish side Trabzonspor

British sports journalist and author Melissa Reddy has unveiled the hidden emotional and tactical details behind Mohamed Salah’s dramatic exit from Liverpool, explaining his deep distress at Anfield and his motivations for joining Turkish giants Trabzonspor.

Read Also: No fairytale start: Mohamed Salah held scoreless as Trabzonspor stumble in Europe

A shattered dream at Anfield

Speaking on the On The Continent podcast to promote her new book, Only Mo Salah, Reddy explained that following his final contract renewal, Salah had found immense inner peace.

"He sat down, reflected on his career and realized he had found his home" Reddy noted, adding that he planned to retire at Anfield and that his family was delighted to remain settled in the city.

However, the situation rapidly deteriorated just four months later.

"He was a broken, heartbroken man because he couldn't understand what was happening around him and why nobody at the club stood up to defend him" she revealed.

Tactical shifts & Feeling abandoned

The summer of 2026 brought massive changes to Liverpool's attacking structure under manager Arne Slot. The emotional departures of close allies like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez were compounded by the £300 million arrival of Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.

Reddy explained that Salah was forced into a deeper, defensive playmaking role to accommodate the expensive new signings. Because this severe tactical shift was never communicated to the public, fans heavily criticized his declining goalscoring numbers.

"Salah felt the club threw him under the bus, leaving him to face the criticism alone" Reddy stated.

The pressure culminated in a widely scrutinized post-match interview against Leeds United, which Reddy clarified was not a display of ego, but rather "a leak of deep pain and hurt from not feeling valued".

Following advice from legends like Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson, who warned him that players cannot win PR wars against the institution, Salah accepted that a mutual departure was his only option.

Rejecting Saudi Billions & the MLS

Despite relentless, highly lucrative pursuit from the Saudi Pro League, Salah never viewed the Middle East as an attractive sporting option. Reddy emphasized that Salah’s motivations were rooted in genuine passion and belonging, not financial gain.

Furthermore, Jordan Henderson’s tales of playing in front of sparse crowds deterred the Egyptian who thrives in electric stadium atmospheres.

Advanced offers from Major League Soccer franchises, which focused heavily on brand expansion akin to David Beckham, and approaches from Italian clubs were similarly rejected, as Salah sought a unique, fiercely competitive European environment.

Reddy's revelations provide crucial context to one of the summer's most shocking transfers. The narrative shifts the blame from a player in natural decline to an institutional failure in man-management and public relations by Liverpool's hierarchy.

By choosing Trabzonspor, Salah is actively pursuing a romantic footballing legacy, prioritizing intense emotional connection, fan culture and cultural resonance over sheer financial capitalization.

Khaled Hegazy |

Editorar, en

Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

Related teams and leagues

Liverpool

Trabzonspor