Former Trabzonspor midfielder John Obi Mikel has warned Mohamed Salah that the club’s passionate supporters can quickly turn against players who fail to deliver results.
Salah joined Trabzonspor as a free agent after ending his nine-year spell at Liverpool. The 34-year-old signed a two-year contract with the Turkish club and received a huge welcome from thousands of supporters following his arrival.
Speaking to Turkish outlet Sabah, Mikel said Salah would enjoy strong support from Trabzonspor fans but stressed that he must maintain a high level of performance to keep their backing.
“Trabzonspor is an excellent club, and the people are passionate about football. It is a football-centric city,” Mikel said.
He described the reception for Salah as exceptional, noting that thousands of supporters gathered to welcome the Egyptian forward.
However, the former Chelsea midfielder warned that the same fans who adore successful players can quickly become critical when performances and results drop.
“The people in the city will worship you if you’re playing well and winning games. They turn on you quickly; they don’t care who you are or where you are from,” Mikel said.
Mikel added that he hopes Salah and his family settle well in Trabzon and that the former Liverpool star can continue performing at a level that keeps the supporters behind him.
Salah arrives at Trabzonspor after an illustrious Liverpool career in which he scored 257 goals in 442 appearances and won major honours including two Premier League titles and the Champions League.
