Beşiktaş Temporarily Freezes Negotiations with Mohamed Salah After Financial Disagreements
Turkish club Beşiktaş has announced the temporary suspension of its negotiations with Egyptian star Mohamed Salah after talks stalled over financial demands that prevented the deal from being finalized, despite negotiations having reached an advanced stage. The club’s management emphasized its commitment to its financial policy and its refusal to compromise the principles governing its transfer strategy.
Speaking at a press conference, Beşiktaş Sporting Director Önder Özen said the club initiated contact with Mohamed Salah after the conclusion of his spell with Liverpool, following a comprehensive evaluation of the deal’s economic feasibility and its expected commercial returns, before moving to formal negotiations, according to Anadolu Agency.
In recent weeks, Egypt’s national team captain had been linked with a move to Beşiktaş, with reports indicating that the Turkish club had offered him a contract running until 2027, with an option to extend for an additional season, in exchange for an annual salary of €12 million.
Özen stated that the club believed signing a player of Mohamed Salah’s caliber would provide significant sporting and commercial value, which prompted it to enter direct negotiations with him, adding that the initial discussions progressed positively.
Three Negotiation Meetings and Financial Disputes
The Beşiktaş sporting director revealed that the club held three rounds of negotiations with Salah, who is 34 years old, noting that discussions made considerable progress at first before slowing when financial matters were addressed on July 21.
He explained that disagreements emerged after financial demands arose, which he described as an obstacle to completing the negotiations. He also expressed his belief that a professional player of Mohamed Salah’s stature may not have been fully aware of all those details, as players typically do not handle such matters directly.
He added that one of the main sticking points involved image rights, which included financial demands that, according to him, the club had never accepted from any player or employee. He stressed that Beşiktaş adheres to a clear policy that it cannot compromise, regardless of the significance of the transfer.
Özen noted that the club is committed to respecting the principles applied in all of its signings, emphasizing that maintaining its institutional approach takes priority over any transfer, even one involving one of the world’s biggest football stars.
Commitment to Principles While Awaiting the Outcome of Negotiations
The Beşiktaş official confirmed that the club president made the appropriate decision to temporarily withdraw from the negotiations after evaluating all the circumstances. He explained that player representation is a legitimate business governed by specified commission structures, but exceeding legally acceptable commission limits could create issues the club has no desire to face.
He added that the management preferred what he described as a “realistic” decision rather than yielding to fan pressure, stressing that freezing the negotiations does not mean abandoning the club’s values or compromising its financial policies.
Özen said that preserving Beşiktaş’s principles remains the club’s highest priority, arguing that losing those values would be more costly than missing the opportunity to sign a world-class player, regardless of his footballing ability or popularity. He emphasized that the club’s long-term stability and institutional approach are more important than any individual transfer.
He also stated that Mohamed Salah’s potential transfer remains unresolved for now, with no final decision having been made on whether negotiations will resume or be permanently terminated, leaving all possibilities open for the future.
According to media reports, the negotiations broke down over the commission requested by Ramy Abbas, Mohamed Salah’s Colombian-born Lebanese agent, whose demands were considered by Beşiktaş to exceed what the club was willing to accept.
At the same time, Egypt’s national team captain continues to attract interest from other clubs. Media reports have linked the Egyptian forward with potential moves to clubs in the Saudi Pro League, as well as interest from teams in Major League Soccer (MLS), leaving his future open to several possible destinations in the coming period.
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Author: Counselor Faisal Al-Mutairi
Publication Date: July 28, 2026
Last Updated: July 2026
