Besiktas puts Mohamed Salah talks on hold

Besiktas has decided to step back from negotiations with Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah, according to the Istanbul club's sporting director Onder Ozen. Ozen revealed that the Turkish side held several conversations with Salah's camp, including three direct discussions between himself, head coach Vincenzo Italiano and the player. However, the early momentum that built up after July 21 has since stalled, prompting the club to pause the operation. "Mohamed Salah is a global star with huge international appeal. In the first days - starting from July 21 - there was positive momentum, but it slowed down," Ozen said. "Our president identified the right moment to stop and held his ground. Instead of a populist decision, he made a realistic one, and for now we have withdrawn from the talks. The Salah case is on hold for us." The 32-year-old forward recorded 12 goals and 10 assists in 41 appearances last season. Whether Besiktas will revisit the move later remains unclear.