Maccabi Haifa Eyes Former Sevilla Winger Rony Lopes

Israeli football club Maccabi Haifa is reportedly considering signing Rony Lopes, a former Sevilla and Manchester City winger, as a potential replacement for the injured Manuel Benson. Lopes, 30, became a free agent after his Portuguese club, Tondela, was relegated from the top league, automatically voiding his contract.

Maccabi Haifa is seeking a right winger due to Benson's season-ending injury, with Kenny Saïf currently filling the position. Lopes, who was once purchased for 25 million euros, has a notable career history, including stints at Lille, Monaco, and Manchester City. In recent years, he was loaned out from Sevilla to clubs like Braga and Alanyaspor.

Lopes, who has played for the Portuguese national team, scored four goals and provided two assists in the Portuguese league last season. He can play as a right winger or an attacking midfielder, offering tactical flexibility to coach Barak Bakhar. He has also played in the Champions League and Europa League, winning the latter competition and an English league title.

As a free agent, Maccabi Haifa would only need to negotiate terms directly with Lopes. In the 2024/25 season, he recorded one goal and one assist in 29 appearances across Portugal and Turkey.