The period at Somgate: "I have a great status there" • The belief that he could have reached Maccabi Tel Aviv or Maccabi Haifa: "easily" • The rescue flight to Israelis during the Corona period: "Bardak, almost hit" • And friend Omar Atzili: "Did not do anything forbidden "• Interview with Amir Agaib

• Agabe at Somgate. "I have a great status there"

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Here is a classic example of the new life of senior footballers in the Corona era. Amir Agaib finished a season and a half at Azeri Somgate with five goals and four assists, marching the team to the Europa League for the first time in history. In short, a sought-after legionnaire, only that what was true last year is not valid in the new era.

"I have options in Europe, and of course in Israel as well, but things are working more slowly now and the amounts are a little lower, so I do not rule anything out and open my mind to any scenario," says Agaib in a special interview with Israel Today. "The transfer window is longer and the teams know That they can wait, because the situation is not like before that if they do not offer a sum, there will be another team that will offer more and kidnap the player. Everything is nonchalant. We are currently with my wife's parents, with no choice, Things will work out soon. "

Why not go back to Somgate?

"I have a great status there, I was very significant in the team. There are players who come home after a month and a half, and I gave a season and a half there. The coach called me and put pressure on me to come back, but this year they can not pay me the salary I received and offer significantly less, so It should be borne in mind that it is once again living abroad with three children and more with the situation of the corona, so I do not know if it is worth it or it is better to stay in the country. Nafti Baku, which is a luxury club, contacted me, but I heard that they too received a financial slap. we will see what will be".

How much has the corona hurt you professionally and financially?

"The Corona came in my best period, so I was mostly injured professionally. I scored four goals in five games, we were in fourth place, we advanced to the Cup semi-finals - I was on my way to finishing a dream season and suddenly stopped the league, we went into isolation in a foreign city with three kids at home. "Our son is beautiful. We were not financially harmed because they continued to pay us as usual, there were no cuts."

 "Of course I would love to return to Hapoel Tel Aviv"

Agaib returned to Israel at the end of June, and he will never forget that day: "When the whole story of the Corona began, there was a rescue flight for Israelis, but the president did not allow me to fly because they thought the league might return. We returned to training and the rush with the patients began again. 

"One day we received a message that on June 24 there is another rescue flight to Israel and I prayed that they would tell us whether to close the league or not. The next day they canceled the league and I bought tickets. There was a brawl around this flight. Half of the passengers were taken from Tbilisi to Baku airport. "A suitcase and people started cursing, almost getting hit. And those from Tbilisi, poor thing, did not let them get off the plane for five hours, but in the end we arrived."  

What did you miss in your career?

"When I look at what was in the past I wanted to kill myself, because I was a child and did not know what to do. I was a star in Bnei Yehuda and I could bounce my name to the sky 8 times if I was more of a maniac, but I was humble, I did not like to be interviewed and did not make problems. There was a mistake, there should be more maniac in football. In the season I left for Omonia Nicosia, I could easily have moved to Maccabi Tel Aviv or Maccabi Haifa.

Would you like to return to Hapoel Tel Aviv or maybe to Bnei Yehuda?

"Of course I would be happy to return to Hapoel. No matter what their situation, they will always be a great club because of the crowd. Bnei Yehuda is my home and I will never forget the love and admiration I received there. Hapoel is in second place for me."  

 "If I am invited - I will play for the Azerbaijan team"

Agaib is one of the people closest to Omar Atzili, who is still on vacation from Maccabi Tel Aviv due to his involvement in the footballers and minors affair, and he has a lot to say about the conduct of the Yellows: "Omar is going through a difficult period that I do not wish on anyone. I do not agree with the behavior of Maccabi Tel Aviv. I saw that Shimon Mizrahi said that a club should stand behind its players, and he is right. 

"You should not abandon your players, but first go with both. If you told me there was a criminal case or indictment here I would say 'okay', but all the evidence shows that they did nothing forbidden. I'm not talking about their private lives. "It's not interesting because it's theirs."

How injured is Noble from Maccabi Tel Aviv?

"Omar is hurt by Maccabi in Ramot. Their two stars, national team players, who contributed so much to the club and throw them away like that? I do not think that's the way. "Something is forbidden, why hurt them even more? Maccabi hurts them severely professionally. The family and close friends support Omer, it will be fine."

Will you agree to represent the Azerbaijan team if you receive a summons?

"If I get a summons I will go play for the Azerbaijan team, because I know how things work for us in the team."