Maccabi Tel Aviv Sends Uri Azou to Training Camp to Secure Spot for 2026/27 Season

Maccabi Tel Aviv is sending winger Uri Azou to a nine-day training camp near Belgrade, Serbia, starting Sunday evening, aiming to impress the club's sporting director Steven Vanharan and head coach Kenny Miller. Azou has shown promise in recent training sessions at Kiryat Shalom and is motivated to prove his worth after a challenging previous season. Last year, Azou was loaned to M.S. Ashdod following a major dispute with Maccabi Tel Aviv, and despite playing most of the season, he experienced relegation with Ashdod. The club, however, insisted on retaining him, believing in his potential for future contributions.

Alongside Azou, Maor Elkassalasi is returning from loan and will also compete for a roster spot. Another returning loanee, Anis Porat Ayash, will join the camp to fight for his place in the squad. The team will depart without Lior Refaelov, who is with his national team at the World Cup, and striker Ion Nicolaescu, who remains in Israel undergoing rehabilitation. Additionally, Hisham Laious, returning from a loan spell at Greek club Lavdiakos, will miss the camp due to injury.

This training camp is a critical opportunity for these players to secure their roles in Maccabi Tel Aviv's lineup for the 2026/27 season as the club prepares for upcoming challenges.