The scene outside Istanbul's Ataturk Airport on Wednesday afternoon was one of frenzied disbelief. As members of the world's media flanked the doors to the terminal, thousands of Trabzonspor supporters gathered behind metal barriers to catch a glimpse of their new hero.
Amid all the chaos, Mohamed Salah simply smiled. Having spent nearly a decade as Liverpool's "Egyptian King," Salah is no stranger to receiving a royal reception.
However, as he readied himself to formalize his shock move to Turkish side Trabzonspor, even Salah could have been forgiven for being taken aback by the magnitude of the occasion. Dressed in the club's famous claret and blue shirt and a white baseball cap, the forward tantalized his adoring public, silencing them before raising his arms in the air to the sound of cheers.