Mohammed Abu Fani heads to Serbia for Red Star move

Mohammed Abu Fani, the Ferencvaros midfielder and former Maccabi Haifa player, flew to Serbia on Friday morning ahead of a formal signing with Red Star Belgrade. The Serbian powerhouse will reunite him with coach Dejan Stankovic, who previously coached him in Hungary. This will be Abu Fani’s second stop in Europe after leaving Israel.

Abu Fani had wanted to take the next step after an impressive first season at Ferencvaros, and that move is now happening after three seasons in Hungary. Stankovic was the key figure behind the transfer, strongly pushing for the Israeli midfielder after returning to Red Star. The two first met in the Champions League playoff tie in which Maccabi Haifa eliminated the Serbians.

The deal is for three years, and Abu Fani is set to earn 750,000 euros a year. That is a 25% salary increase over his current wage at Ferencvaros. Red Star will pay about 1.5 million euros, the same amount Ferencvaros paid Maccabi Haifa three seasons ago.

A return to Israel and to Maccabi Haifa was never a serious option, because Abu Fani wanted a better financial package and the Israeli Premier League does not offer those sums. He now aims to maximize his career abroad.