Carragher rips into Mo Salah transfer: He's too good for Turkey

6 Aug 2026 08:29 BST | 5 min read

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Mohamed Salah has been criticised by Jamie Carragher for his decision to join Trabzonspor, with the pundit claiming that he felt the Liverpool icon was ‘better than that’.

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Salah departed Anfield at the end of the season as a free agent having endured a difficult final season with the Reds.

The 33-year-old, though, will be remembered as a Liverpool icon, and while it was expected that he would leave the club for a money-rich side, Carragher says that he has been taken aback that it’s Trabzonspor.

Current ETV

Mohamed Salah

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Trabzonspor

Mohamed Salah

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Trabzonspor

ETV Range

€28.4M - €34.8M

He compared Salah’s situation to that of Cristiano Ronaldo, who continues to play as a 41-year-old in the Saudi Pro League, where rumour initially suggested that the Egyptian would move.

MLS was also touted as a possibility, but in the end, Salah has elected to move to Turkey on a handsome deal that has surprised the former Liverpool and England defender.

Trabzonspor is a ‘level too low’ for Salah, claims Carragher

“I never believed he was going to go to Saudi, because number one, he's too good for that. I think he can be playing in Serie A. Turkey for me feels a level too low,” Carragher told Sky Sports.

“I was convinced he'd end up at an AC Milan or Juventus or somewhere like that, maybe his wages were a problem. Looking at him, I don't know him, obviously have never spoken to him.

“But he's like Ronaldo, he's so driven, his numbers mean so much to him. I thought - he can still do this in Turkey by the way - but I thought he'd want to play at a real prestigious club."

“Obviously his wage demands have put a few people off, but I thought he might almost curb those demands a little bit to almost get a better club.

“To go to an AC Milan or Juventus or whoever it may be, play at the San Siro, still playing in big games, still playing in Europe. Turkey just feels like... I just think he's better than that.”

Salah offered bumper deal by Trabzonspor

Salah is reported to have been offered an attractive package by Trabzonspor, who are 161st in the UEFA Ranking, below the likes of FC Noah and Hamrun Spartans.

They have not qualified for the Champions League this season but will instead face either Ferencvaros or Gornik Zabrze to reach the group stage of the Europa League.

Nevertheless, it has been reported that Salah will earn €34 million in Turkey over the course of a two-year deal – recouping a wage that is similar to his salary at Liverpool.

The reception he has received in Turkey has been spectacular, with thousands of fans greeting him in Trabzon.

Carragher and Salah: A history of tension

Carragher and Salah have had numerous public spats, the latest of which began late in 2025, when the pundit criticised the attitude of the forward after he claimed Liverpool had ‘thrown him under a bus’.

“I think whenever Mo Salah stops in a mixed zone, which he’s done four times in eight years at Liverpool, it’s choreographed with him and his agent to cause maximum damage and strengthen his own position,” Carragher told Monday Night Football in a lengthy monologue.

"Before he came to Liverpool, Mo Salah was known as the guy who failed at Chelsea"@Carra23 on Mohamed Salah 👇 pic.twitter.com/zCiixSuYGY
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 8, 2025

“He’s waited, I think, for a bad result for Liverpool. They conceded a last-minute goal. Everyone in the club feels like they’re in the gutter at the moment. And he’s chosen that time to go for the manager. He’s trying to get him sacked, that’s the way I felt about it.”

Salah subsequently fired back at Carragher, with the pair clearly unable to see eye-to-eye.