Lazio Sign Israeli Star
Italian giants Lazio have signed Israeli teenager Eyal Golasa on a four-and-a-half year deal from Maccabi Haifa.
The move has though been shrouded in controversy with the Israeli club claiming Golasa was under contract with them, with the player believing his agreement ran out when he turned 18 last October.
However, without seemingly Haifa's knowledge, the player has successfully undergone a medical and joined the Serie A side on Monday.
A club statement said: "Maccabi Haifa Football Club takes Eyal Golasa's behavior very seriously. The player has a binding agreement with the club and the club's legal advisor Udi Shochatovitch has been put in charge of the matter."
Golasa is currently injured and is set to miss the next two months, having made his breakthrough last season, appearing in 27 of Haifa's 33 Premier League matches. Although having not signed a professional contract with the Israeli champions, he did sign a five-year agreement with the club when he joined from youth team Betar Tobruk 18 months ago - however, as Golasa was a minor it is not legally binding.
Having made 20 appearances for the club this season, scoring seven goals, he said: "I understand Haifa's anger but more than three months have passed since I became 18 and they were talking to me about sums of money that were not appropriate for a player of my status."
Maccabi are weighing their legal options and are hoping to scupper the deal by not granting Golosa's official release before the transfer window closes tonight. If it does go ahead, Haifa will though be entitled to a fee from Lazio for nurturing the player - which will be determined by a Uefa arbitration committee.
