Report: Fiorentina exercise Mohamed Salah loan option for next season

A couple days ago, Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella was "sure" that Mohamed Salah would be staying with his team next season.  And sure enough, reports are now filtering out of Italy that Fiorentina have indeed picked up the loan option on Salah's contract, though I have not seen any official confirmation from either player or club on this.

Fiorentina have decided to trigger the option to extend Mohamed Salah's loan next season before buying him on a permanent basis next year.

-source: Evening Standard

The numbers break down as such, according to Gazzetta dello Sport:

• Loan (extension) fee for 2015-16:  €2m
• Agreed future fee for permanent move:  €13m + bonuses

Once he signs permanently in the summer of 2016, Fiorentina plan on inserting a €35m release clause into his contract.  Not bad at all, though the way things are going, Salah will retire a legend at La Viola.  Statues all over town, including once at the Accademia Gallery next to David, you'll see.  And that's before tonight's Cup semifinal clash against Juventus where he's sure to score several hat-tricks!

Jokes aside, Salah has fit in amazingly well in Florence, has become a number one fan-favorite -- as it tends to happen when you score by the bucket-load -- and is already doing charity work in town.  And he doesn't even speak Italian!