Anan Chalili Nears Record Transfer to Inter Milan for €25 Million

Anan Chalili, the young Israeli winger from Union Saint-Gilloise, is set to become the most expensive Israeli player in history with an imminent transfer to Inter Milan. The Italian champions will reportedly pay around 25 million euros for the 21-year-old, a record fee for both Chalili and his Belgian club. His father, Majdi Chalili, spoke on 103FM's sports program on Thursday evening, describing the intense and emotional negotiations that took place over the past two to three weeks. Majdi revealed that Inter is sending a plane from Brussels to Milan for the signing, which is expected to happen within days.

Majdi detailed the significant interest from several clubs including Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Ipswich (which offered 30 million euros), Cagliari, Atalanta, and Napoli. Napoli made the first official offer but it was below Union Saint-Gilloise's asking price. The club had previously paid 7.5 million euros to acquire Chalili, making this transfer the highest sale in their history. Majdi also credited Itzik Ovadia, the professional manager at Maccabi Haifa, for believing in Anan early on and securing his playing time as a teenager.

The father praised Chalili's agent, Boaz Goren, for quietly managing the negotiations and building the player's reputation over two years in Belgium. Majdi expressed his emotional reaction to the deal, saying it was the first time he ever cried over a football matter. He also recounted a difficult final week where Chalili nearly missed training and the negotiations almost collapsed until former player Christian Kivu personally encouraged him from Miami.

Looking ahead, Majdi believes this transfer is not the last big move for Anan, highlighting his strength, aggression, and consistent performances in the Champions League as key factors that attracted Inter Milan. The deal marks a major milestone for Israeli football and for Chalili's promising career in Europe.