«The announcement is imminent,» exclaims Taha, a Besiktas fan seated on the stadium steps overlooking the Bosphorus. The young supporter scrolls through his phone, refreshing every update about Mohamed Salah (34), currently a free agent and on the verge of joining the Turkish club.

«This could be the biggest transfer in the club’s history—and even in Turkish football,» declares Eren Tutel, Besiktas specialist and journalist for BirGün. «No other signing combines such sporting excellence, global fame, and commercial appeal.»

To reverse the trend, Besiktas has already swooped for Leandro Trossard from Arsenal for €18 million. The Belgian (34), a recent English champion, was presented to 20,000 fans last Thursday, with chants of the Egyptian winger’s name ringing through the stands. «Besiktas must build a balanced team around him—a balance it has lacked in recent years,» Tutel notes.

Ali, a 32-year-old fan draped in a black-and-white jersey, heads toward the club shop beneath the stadium. «I’m here to check out the new season kit, but I’ll wait to buy Salah’s jersey,» he says. If the deal is finalized, both the club store and airport will be overwhelmed by fans eager to welcome the Egyptian star.