Hapoel Be'er Sheva Makes Final Offer to Retain Kings Kangwa Before His Move to Panathinaikos

Kings Kangwa recently completed a high-profile transfer from Hapoel Be'er Sheva to Greek club Panathinaikos, marking one of the most notable moves in Israeli football recently. On August 2, Kangwa's agent, Nir Karin, appeared on Sport 5's "5 BaAvir" to discuss the transfer process and Be'er Sheva's efforts to keep the player until the last moment.

Karin explained that Panathinaikos had been in contact for several months and that other clubs, including AEK Athens, were interested. However, AEK did not want Kangwa to participate in the Champions League qualifiers, and Kangwa ultimately chose Panathinaikos because it was the club that wanted him most and matched his playing style and ambitions. He emphasized Kangwa's strong connection to Hapoel Be'er Sheva, the club's owner Alona, and his teammates, noting the player's difficulty in leaving due to the affection he received there.

Karin cited several reasons for the move, including Kangwa's feeling of having achieved all possible titles in Israel, limited opportunities for further growth domestically, the challenges of living in Israel as a non-Israeli, and financial considerations. Be'er Sheva made significant offers to retain him, both financially and professionally, and tried to delay the transfer so he could play against Red Star Belgrade, but ultimately it was not feasible.

He revealed that Panathinaikos aims to win the Greek championship for the first time in 15 years and has invested millions, not only in Kangwa but in the club's overall progress. Be'er Sheva's final offer was competitive but did not match Panathinaikos' salary, which is among the top three in the Israeli league, close to 600,000 euros annually. Karin also noted that political factors make it harder to sell Israeli players abroad, citing Celtic's refusal to sign Kangwa because he came from Israel.

This transfer highlights both the sporting ambitions of the player and the complexities Israeli clubs face in retaining talent amid political and economic challenges.