Mohamed Salah scored as Trabzonspor beat Beşiktaş 2-0, finding the net against the club that pursued him in the summer.
The Egypt captain struck in the 71st minute after Ozan Tufan’s first-half opener, taking his league tally to eight goals and moving clear at the top of the scoring charts.
The victory lifted Trabzonspor to fourth on 16 points, one ahead of Beşiktaş, who dropped to fifth. They sit three points behind leaders Galatasaray after eight matches.
Tufan opened the scoring in the 21st minute, volleying home the rebound after Alexander Nübel saved Ernest Muçi’s shot. Trabzonspor carried that advantage into the break.
Beşiktaş threatened an equaliser before half-time when André Onana saved from Leandro Trossard, and the follow-up struck the post before the defence cleared.
Salah then gave the hosts breathing space, meeting Franculino Djú’s cross from the left with a finish through Nübel’s legs.
Onana made seven saves as Trabzonspor protected their clean sheet, despite Beşiktaş having the greater share of possession. The hosts followed league wins over Galatasaray and Samsunspor with a third successive Süper Lig victory.
Salah’s goal came less than three months after Beşiktaş was close to signing him.
However, after talks stalled, sporting director Önder Özen announced that Beşiktaş had shelved the talks and would not improve their offer, although they remained open to a positive response on the existing terms.
Özen said he had spoken to Salah twice about the project, but negotiations stalled over commission and proposed shares of commercial income.