Two weeks ago, Hapoel Jerusalem celebrated the highest sale in the club's history when it sold midfielder Lior Kassa to Maccabi Haifa for 1.1 million euros.
A few days later the team from Katamon became a buyer when they acquired the striker Ohad Almagor from Hapoel Rishon Lezion, who is considered one of the next talents in Israeli football and it is not impossible that he will be the next exit of the team from the capital.
Almagor (21) was purchased for half a million shekels plus 20 percent of a future sale.
The striker made headlines many times in the last few weeks and according to reports he was also interested by Hapoel Beer Sheva and other teams from the Premier League, but the Jerusalemites were the most serious team and above all the fastest in the negotiations.
The club leaders realized that there is a good chance that in a few years they will be able to sell the player for a much higher price.
Although Almagor is considered a superstar in the youth leagues, the start of the season in the national league was not easy.
At the beginning of his time in Hapoel Rishon Lezion, he did not get many playing minutes and even went into a personal conversation twice with the coach at the time, Yuval Naim.
"You have amazing talent and data, but as long as you don't listen and implement my instructions, you won't play. As far as I'm concerned, you're welcome to leave, but if you want to play, then listen to my demands," Naim told him in one of the conversations.
Tal Ben Haim.
Almagor mentions him, photo: Marko
The first call did not help, but the second time the token fell.
Almagor implemented the coach's professional requirements and became one of Rishon Lezion's most important players this season.
"This is a very talented player who can reach the highest levels and is on the top list of young players in Israel," Naim is sure.
"He needs to learn to listen to the demands of Hapoel Jerusalem and may be sold in the future."
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Eldad Shavit, who replaced Naim at the Orange Club, was also surprised by Almagor's great talent.
"I came to the team and heard a lot from professionals in the club about the great potential that deserves a league much higher than the national league," he says.
"I didn't think that Almagor's progress would happen so quickly because he scored only two goals in the first round, but Hapoel Jerusalem followed him and rushed to close the deal after the sale of Lior Casa. Almagor has bursting power, personal ability and great physical fitness. I also like His personality and the fact that he didn't give up on any training even when he knew he was on his way to the Premier League. He reminds me a lot of the striker Tal Ben Haim."
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