Ex-Beitar Jerusalem Chairman Reveals Failed Signing of Brazilian Star Hulk

Former Beitar Jerusalem chairman Vladimir Shkler has revealed that the club came close to signing Brazilian striker Hulk during the team's golden era under Arcadi Gaydamak. Shkler, who was Gaydamak's confidant and oversaw the club's ambitious transfer policy, stated that the deal did not fall through due to financial reasons.

According to Shkler, the potential signing of Hulk, then a relatively unknown player in Japan, was initiated by then-manager Ossie Ardiles. Ardiles, familiar with the Japanese league from his coaching experience there, identified Hulk as a physically imposing striker who could be acquired for a realistic sum. Hulk was playing in Japan's second division at the time, on loan to Kawasaki, where he was scoring prolifically.

Shkler explained that negotiations with Hulk were positive and financially feasible, contrasting it with more complex deals for players like Derek Boateng, Jérôme Leroy, and David Aganzo, who were signed during that period. "We heard the sums, we knew it was realistic to bring him, and it was a simple financial deal," Shkler told Sport 5.

However, the transfer ultimately collapsed because Ardiles changed his mind. Initially keen on Hulk, the manager later decided he preferred a more experienced player. "Ardiles initially wanted him, and then analyzed and said he wanted someone more experienced than him," Shkler recounted. Instead of Hulk, Beitar Jerusalem signed Christian Pabbiani, another physically strong player whom Ardiles knew from Argentina.

Beitar Jerusalem, under Gaydamak's ownership, boasted a massive budget, reaching approximately 193 million shekels in the 2006/2007 season. This allowed them to sign top Israeli and foreign players, leading to league championships. Hulk, who was eventually signed by FC Porto for 60 million euros, went on to become a globally recognized star.