Anan Halaily Fails Medical, Inter Milan Transfer Collapses in Record Israeli Football Deal

Anan Halaily's transfer to Inter Milan was canceled after he failed to pass the required medical examinations in Italy. The deal had been finalized on Thursday, with Inter agreeing on all terms with Halaily's Belgian club, Royal Union Saint-Gilloise, and the player himself. Halaily had signed a five-year contract with the Italian champions in what was hailed as the largest transfer in Israeli football history, valued initially at 23 million euros and potentially rising to 27-30 million euros with bonuses. He was expected to earn around 1.8 million euros per season.

The transfer followed an outstanding season for Halaily at Royal Union Saint-Gilloise, where he contributed to a cup victory and impressed in the UEFA Champions League. Halaily began his international career with Israel in 2022 and was part of the under-20 squad at the World Cup in 2023. He scored the dramatic winning goal in the round of 16 against Uzbekistan and finished as the team's top scorer, also netting goals in the quarterfinals and third-place match.

Later in 2023, Halaily was called up to the under-21 European Championship squad, where he scored a decisive penalty in the quarterfinal shootout against host Georgia, helping Israel reach the semifinals and secure a historic qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics. On October 6, 2023, he was first called to the senior national team for Euro 2024 qualifiers against Switzerland and Kosovo, making his debut on November 15 in a 1-1 draw with Switzerland.