Maccabi Tel Aviv Pursues Bruno Fernando to Strengthen Center Position

Maccabi Tel Aviv is actively working to finalize the signing of Yam Madar while simultaneously pursuing two new domestic players to join the team. Among the top candidates is 27-year-old Angolan center Bruno Fernando, who is expected to soon conclude his stint with Partizan Belgrade. According to club sources, Fernando is a preferred option for the starting center role alongside Roman Sorkin, though contract negotiations remain ongoing.

Fernando, standing 2.08 meters tall, was once regarded as a promising NBA talent, having played 220 games with Atlanta, Boston, Houston, and Toronto. His career averages include 4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. He moved to Real Madrid for the 2024/25 season but did not meet expectations and subsequently transferred to Partizan Belgrade, where he averaged 8.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in the EuroLeague. Partizan is reportedly planning to replace him with Kavius Hayes.

Another center under consideration is Hassiel Ribeiro, who played for Maccabi from the 2023/24 season through 2024/25. Ribeiro struggled with injuries during his time at Red Star Belgrade, appearing in only nine games last season before being officially released. While Maccabi values Ribeiro’s previous contributions, concerns about his age (33) and recent injury history make his signing a significant risk.