Czech Football Chief Confirms Talks to Recruit Israeli Teen Star Orr Goren

Pavel Nedvěd, the Czech Republic's National Teams Manager and a legendary former player, has confirmed ongoing negotiations to recruit 17-year-old Israeli midfielder Orr Goren, who currently plays for Barcelona. Nedvěd revealed in a podcast interview that the Czech Football Association believes Goren is ready for the senior national team and has presented him with this opportunity. Goren, who holds both Israeli and Czech citizenship through his family roots, has been included in Barcelona's squad for the recent El Clásico match against Real Madrid, sitting on the bench. Nedvěd stated that the Czechs have approached Goren and his family multiple times, emphasizing that "there is always a chance." He acknowledged that Goren could choose to play for Israel, his father's country, making the recruitment task more challenging, but expressed optimism that their offer has piqued Goren's and his family's interest. The Czechs are reportedly offering Goren a place in their senior team, bypassing the youth levels, despite him being eligible for Israel's U-18 youth squad, for which he is expected to receive a call-up for upcoming qualifiers. Nedvěd compared Goren's style to that of Barcelona's Pedri, calling him a "huge talent" who fits Barcelona's style and predicting he will soon be a starter for the club. While Nedvěd confirmed the public interest and the ambition to integrate Goren into the senior team, no decision from Goren or a formal call-up has been announced.