Maccabi Tel Aviv Prepares Improved Offer to Keep Captain Dor Peretz

Maccabi Tel Aviv is set to present captain Dor Peretz, 31, with a new contract offer after his dramatic deal with Croatian champion Dinamo Zagreb shook up the situation at the club in Kiryat Shalom. The revised proposal will be for three years with an option for one more season, as fans have resisted losing the team’s captain and the club wants to respond to the difficult Israeli market conditions.

Dinamo’s offer is substantially richer than Maccabi’s, with reported annual wages of 700,000 euros. Zagreb also offers a sporting challenge, since Peretz is expected to be given a major role there, including taking over the position of captain Josip Misic. Dinamo won the Croatian league last season and will begin its next European campaign in the second qualifying round of the Champions League against Swiss side Thun.

Peretz traveled to Zagreb with his wife to see the city and also met during the trip with sporting director and former star Zvonimir Boban. He is expected to return to Israel today and make a final decision over the weekend on whether to sign.

Maccabi’s new move comes after the club previously tried to cut his pay by tens of percent, to about $400,000, despite his strong season, in which he scored 19 goals and finished as the league’s top scorer. He earned 550,000 euros last season, excluding bonuses. During his recent family vacation, which ended this week, the sides were not in contact. Peretz is also considering another offer from Beitar Jerusalem, but he still appears keen to remain in yellow.