Italian Club Lazio Interested in Israeli Player Liel Abada, Salary a Hurdle

Italian Serie A club Lazio is reportedly interested in signing Liel Abada, a player for the Israeli national team currently with Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer (MLS). Abada, 25, previously had two successful seasons with Celtic in Scotland, scoring 28 goals and providing 20 assists before facing backlash from fans after the October 7th attacks. He is currently earning approximately $2.5 million per season in the US, which is considered a significant obstacle for Lazio to overcome. Abada's contract with Charlotte is set to expire at the end of the calendar year, making him a potential free agent.

According to Italian reports, Abada is one of two final candidates for Lazio, alongside Diego Luna, a 23-year-old American midfielder-winger from Real Salt Lake. Both players' contracts are ending, allowing them to sign with new clubs without transfer fees. However, Abada would need to accept a lower salary to make the move to the Rome-based club.

Since the World Cup break, Abada has been in strong form, recording 6 goals and 7 assists in 24 appearances across all competitions this season. He also played for the Israeli Olympic team in Paris 2024. Lazio has started their league campaign with four wins and a draw in five games, placing them third in the table with 13 points. The team's main weakness this season has been scoring, with only 8 goals in 5 matches.