Bayern Munich signed Maccabi Tel Aviv goalkeeper Daniel Peretz in one of the most surprising and groundbreaking transfer deals the Middle East has seen in years.
Peretz, 23, has moved for €5.5m (£4.74m) plus add-ons, and has signed with Bayern until 2028.
The young Israeli, who had spent 18 years with Maccabi Tel Aviv, is joining in a tricky moment for the German giants.
Their first-choice goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, is injured, and will be out for a few months, while his stand-in Sven Ulreich isn't providing the fans and the Bayern staff with what they are looking for.
The club have monitored Peretz closely in recent months, after his impressive display against Germany in the U21 Euros, where he managed to stop two penalties and earn Israel a rare point in what has become a historic tournament for Israeli football.
Peretz is part of a special generation of Israeli talents, along with Manor Solomon at Tottenham, Oscar Gloukh at Red Bull Salzburg, Liel Abada at Celtic and Stav Lemkin at Shakhtar Donetsk.
This is arguably the most significant Israeli transfer since 1979, when the late Avi Cohen moved from Maccabi to Liverpool.
Since then, no player has moved directly from the Israeli league to a club at the top of European football.
"I am here to compete," he said in a press conference, "Neuer is my role model, I want to learn from him and the experience".
Peretz is extraordinarily talented, and is already counted among the leading goalkeeping prospects in European football, alongside Giorgi Mamardashvili of Valencia and Porto's Diogo Costa.
He is a penalty-saving expert, and stopped a few impressive ones in that historic Euros.
But aspects of his game still need to be improved, such as his reactions to threats in open play.
Undoubtedly, Bayern's goalkeeper crew has a gem to work with for the club's future.
Peretz's deal, which comes after the Red Bull Salzburg deal for Oscar Gloukh, is changing the way Israeli football is viewed in the worldwide football industry.
Clubs will now be looking for more hidden gems within the Israeli League, instead of buying their players once they’ve already made the move to Europe.
🚨OFFICIAL!
— BabaGol (@BabaGol_) August 25, 2023
🇮🇱🧤Daniel Peretz signed with 🇩🇪FC Bayern Munich
💰€5m fee plus add-ons to 🇮🇱Maccabi Tel-Aviv
✍️Signed for 5⃣ years
Good luck! 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/SfdnTApexG
Mohamed Salah saga reaches critical stage
From those moving to Europe, to those eyeing a lucrative escape to the Middle East.
In the past few days, reports of the huge offer from Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad Jeddah for Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah started circulating.
While all Middle Eastern and Saudi sources claim Salah has already agreed to a €250m (£215.25m) contract at Al Amid, Western sources claim there is no chance the Egyptian king is leaving during the 2023/24 season.
Despite that, Al Ittihad seem to be insisting on signing Salah ahead of their 2023 Club World Cup campaign, and have reportedly offered Liverpool €150m (£129.05m) for the player.
Is now the right time for Salah to leave Liverpool?
Many things can happen until the end of the Saudi transfer window on 20 September, but it now seems unlikely that the player will go in this window - in the winter, or next season, makes more sense.
Mohammed Salah to Al Ittihad Jeddah? Yes, but no. At least not now. Until September 20 a lot of things can change, but the logic behind this deal is still in the making.
— Uri Levy (@Levyninho) August 28, 2023
My take on the 🇪🇬 Egyptian king’s transfer rumors @i24NEWS_EN pic.twitter.com/ZbBvForvQ9
Derby weekends across the region
The weekend saw a few exciting derbies taking place across the Middle East.
In Jordan, the eternal Amman derby between Al Wehdat and Al Faisaly ended in a 3-2 victory to the Palestinian club of the city.
In Abu Dhabi, Al Wahda of Pitso Mosimane managed to beat Al Jazira 2-1 on the second matchday of the Emirati Pro League.
The impact of the South African coach on his team is becoming more evident day-by-day.
The coach was sacked by Al Ahli Jeddah without receiving his salary.
After gaining promotion with the Saudi club, he has since focused on the Emirati title.
Watch out for Al Wahda this season, Pitso is coming.
Finally, the East Jerusalem Derby in the West Bank Premier League saw a clash between champions Jabal Mukaber, and the runner-up Hilal Al Quds.
A hammering 4-0 victory for Nusoor Al Jabal has shocked the whole League, as Hilal are considered one of the leading sides in the competition, and the rivalry between the two sides is fierce.
Amer Salman's players must change their mindset if they want to battle for the Palestinian title this season.
Edited by Alex Smith
