Maccabi Netanya Pursues Brazilian Defender Sidney Lima Amid Negotiation Challenges

Maccabi Netanya is actively seeking to strengthen its defense by signing a foreign center-back, with Brazilian Sidney Lima emerging as a prime candidate. Lima, 29, currently captains Santa Clara in Portugal's top league, standing 1.85 meters tall. He joined Santa Clara in the summer of 2023 and has a contract until 2027, with the club holding a two-year extension option. Over his tenure, Lima has made 65 appearances in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, scoring four goals and providing one assist, contributing to Santa Clara's promotion at the end of the 2023/24 season.

Despite advanced talks between Netanya and Lima's representatives, negotiations have encountered difficulties that threaten to derail the transfer. These challenges come after a summer of significant changes for Maccabi Netanya and a season start marked by a 0-0 home draw against Bnei Sakhnin. The club remains committed to bolstering its squad as the Israeli Premier League season progresses.