Eyal Berkovich Deal to Acquire Hapoel Nof HaGalil Falls Through Amid Negotiation Disputes

Negotiations for Eyal Berkovich to become the owner of Hapoel Nof HaGalil have collapsed due to significant disagreements over financial terms, guarantees, and staffing arrangements. Although the deal appeared finalized, Berkovich's lawyer sought to amend certain clauses, leading to a breakdown in talks. A senior insider familiar with the details told Sport 5 that "everything was closed yesterday, but the lawyer wanted to change some sections, and since there was no agreement, it ended." Despite efforts within Israeli football circles to revive the deal through mediation, optimism remains low.

This marks the third time in recent years that Berkovich has come close to acquiring the club. Previous negotiations failed primarily because of accumulated financial deficits. This time, club chairman Gil Baram committed to clearing all past debts and even postponed a family vacation abroad to complete this task during the break. Berkovich was expected to receive a debt-free club and, according to the preliminary agreement, also gain control of the youth department.

A key figure in the recent developments was Nir Berkovich, Eyal's brother, who was authorized to lead negotiations with Baram. Despite goodwill on all sides, the deal currently seems unlikely to be revived. The collapse leaves Berkovich out of Israeli football ownership for now, with no immediate resolution in sight.