Beşiktaş's Process Under the Shadow of Salah's Agent

The Real Obstacle Is Not the Player, But the Agent

Excitement is at its peak in Beşiktaş's long-standing pursuit of Mohamed Salah, but the most challenging aspect of the process is not the player himself, but his agent Ramy Abbas. Abbas serves not only as Salah's agent but also as his advisor and lawyer — the negotiations he has conducted throughout his career are now studied as exemplary cases.

The First Lesson in the Roma-Liverpool Transfer

The first major example of this negotiation expertise occurred in the summer of 2017. While Abbas reached an early agreement with Liverpool on personal terms, he patiently managed the process until Roma's transfer fee expectations were met. After Liverpool's repeated rejections, the transfer was completed for 42 million Euros.

Two-Year Contract Negotiation

Abbas's true mastery emerged during the contract renewal process in 2022. In negotiations that lasted nearly two years, the agent rejected the club's initial offers, refusing a low guaranteed salary and a high bonus system; he demanded an increase in the fixed salary, consideration of performance history, and inclusion of image rights in the agreement. While the process occasionally reached a breaking point, it is reported that he increased pressure on Liverpool's management with cryptic social media posts. Ultimately, Salah signed one of the highest-paid contracts in the club's history — this process is studied as a negotiation example at Harvard Business School.

Social Media Pressure Continues at Beşiktaş

Abbas's tactic of exerting pressure through social media also applies to the Beşiktaş process. It is reported that he has facilitated famous journalists sharing posts about the transfer being finalized — while this excites the fans, it is said to weaken Beşiktaş's bargaining power in negotiations under pressure.

The Only Topic on the Table Is Not Salary

It is noted that Abbas has brought not only the annual salary to the negotiation table but also sponsorship revenues, commercial usage rights, jersey sales, and the value of the Salah brand. Beşiktaş is said to have requested a commission of 7.5 million Euros based on the income generated from this brand value. The agreed annual salary for Salah is reported to be 12 million Euros.