Hapoel Haifa Parts Ways with Sandro Altunashvili, Eyes New Midfield Signings

Hapoel Haifa announced on Tuesday that midfielder Sandro Altunashvili has left the club after both sides agreed to terminate his contract by mutual consent. The decision had been under consideration for several weeks inside the coaching staff, according to the report.

Coach Haim Silvas and his assistants were not convinced that keeping Altunashvili was the right move. Their main aim was to clear a foreign-player slot in midfield, which helped drive the decision to end his stay.

Hapoel Haifa is now searching for a foreign defensive midfielder and likely another foreign player in the No. 10 role. The club felt Altunashvili’s tendency to sit between the lines on the pitch was not what Silvas wanted.

At the same time, Itai Zafrani is expected to sign soon on a season-long loan from Maccabi Tel Aviv. He is expected to be one of the next additions for the Carmel club as it continues rebuilding its squad.