Mo Salah to receive two rare honours in Turkey after 'unprecedented surge'

Mo Salah is set to receive two rare honours in Turkey just months after moving to the country.

In the summer, after his glittering nine-year stint at Liverpool came to an end, Salah turned down offers elsewhere to sign for Trabzonspor in the Turkish Super Lig.

Joining on a free transfer, Salah became one of the highest-paid players in the league after signing his two-year contract with the seven-time Turkish champions.

Salah has shown no signs of slowing down on the pitch since joining Trabzonspor, scoring eight goals and registering three assists in 10 appearances in the Turkish top flight.

He hit a hat-trick against Galatasaray back in September to become an instant hero.

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But his presence in the division has also had a transformative impact in Trabzon, with new direct flights between the Egyptian capital of Cairo and the city beginning in August.

The club have also gained millions of new followers on social media following the capture of Salah, highlighting his position as one of the biggest names in world football.

Now, it's emerged that Salah is to be recognised by the country of Turkey following his summer switch.

According to Mohamed Kaoud, a journalist for BBC Arabic, Salah is to be awarded Turkish citizenship alongside his family.

He is also poised to receive the State Medal for Distinguished Service - a high-level honour to reflect an "unprecedented surge" in the sports and tourism sectors in Turkey in recent times.

On Facebook, Kaoud wrote: "I have learned that Mohamed Salah will "definitely" be granted Turkish citizenship. Officials from Trabzon are currently working with Turkish state authorities to expedite the naturalisation process for the Egyptian football icon, as well as his wife and their three children.

"Furthermore, Salah is set to be awarded the 'State Medal for Distinguished Service' during a major ceremony, and will receive a high-level honour in recognition of his contribution to an unprecedented surge in both the sports and tourism sectors in Turkey—all achieved in record time."

In a response, Masrawy, citing a source, claimed that “there has been no official contact with Salah from Turkish officials regarding his obtaining Türkiye citizenship" but clarified that he is set to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the near future.

Trabzonspor, who also have Fabinho, Andre Onana and Stefan Savic in their ranks, are currently third in the Turkish Super Lig - three points behind leaders Galatasaray after taking 22 points from 10 games.

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Salah has done the business on the pitch, but his arrival at Trabzonspor has been seismic - with a reported 116,000 shirts sold as of late September.

The 152% increase brought in around £8 million in revenue, with Turkiye Today reporting that Salah takes 20 per cent of the funds on products with his name on.

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The figures are expected to increase to a record-breaking level by the end of the campaign.

The club's president Ertugrul Dogan claimed that 70% of Salah's yearly salary was covered by season ticket sales after they ramped up.

In addition, it's been reported that a countryside location where Salah took a photograph has grown into a tourist hotspot, while travel agencies are selling packages around the former Roma star.