Göztepe Match Squad Announced: Trabzonspor Makes Salah Decision

Göztepe and Trabzonspor are set to face each other in a special farewell match for İsmail Köybaşı, a player who has represented both clubs. The game, scheduled to take place at Gürsel Aksel Stadium, is being viewed as a crucial test for both teams ahead of the new season.

Tickets for the match, which kicks off at 8:00 PM, have nearly sold out, with fans of both clubs sharing common stands. Entry is restricted to holders of Passo cards for Göztepe and Trabzonspor.

Amidst the anticipation for this meaningful game, many Trabzonspor fans were particularly interested in the potential appearance of Mohamed Salah. Speculation about whether the Egyptian star would be included in the squad and play for the Black Sea club has been a topic of discussion. However, these questions were answered when Trabzonspor released its official squad list for the Göztepe match, confirming Salah's absence from the traveling party. The announced Trabzonspor squad includes players such as Onuralp, Ahmet Doğan, Erol Can, Samet, Savic, Nwaiwu, Cenk, Pina, Mustafa, Cabral, Melih, Bouchouari, Malinovskyi, Ozan, Muci, Aral, Saviolo, Metehan, Mitongo, Umut, and Onuachu.

This match marks a significant occasion, reviving the tradition of testimonial games in Turkey after a long hiatus. İsmail Köybaşı, retiring at 37, will be honored by his former teams. Having won the Süper Lig title with Trabzonspor in 2022, Köybaşı concluded his career by captaining Göztepe to promotion in the 1st League in 2024. The experienced footballer, who also played 28 times for the Turkish national team, including in the 2016 European Championship, previously had stints with Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe. He is expected to wear the jersey one last time, carried off the field by players from both teams.