Two Italian powerhouses are competing for Anan Khalaili
At Inter, after Marco Palestra turned them down—choosing Chelsea over the Beneamata—one of the most promising leads is the one involving Anan Khalaili of Union Saint-Gilloise. The Israeli fullback is considered one of the best fits for Inter’s 3-5-2 formation, having already played that role in both the Belgian league and the Champions League. In recent weeks, his name was put forward to Inter’s management, which took some time to evaluate a potential move. In the meantime, however, Napoli has also entered the fray, initiating in-depth talks with the Belgian club: the deal could be finalized with an offer of around 20 million euros.
Khalaili is a modern attacking winger, born in 2004, who came up through the ranks at Maccabi Haifa before establishing himself at Union Saint-Gilloise. Endowed with physical strength and speed, he is capable of playing on either wing but performs best as a right winger who cuts inside, with the ability to drift toward the center to look for a shot or a through ball. In the season just concluded, he made 35 appearances for the Belgian club, recording six assists in the league and three goals in eight Champions League matches—statistics that have attracted the attention of several European clubs.
Napoli’s interest is not new: as early as May, sporting director Manna had begun initial inquiries, with Aurelio De Laurentiis reportedly personally convinced of the soundness of the investment. Napoli had initially considered an offer of around 18 million euros, a figure that has risen in recent weeks precisely because Inter has entered the race for the player. Inter’s competition therefore risks triggering a bidding war that could complicate the plans of both Italian clubs.
For Inter, the Khalaili pursuit is part of a summer transfer window marked by disappointment over the failure to sign Marco Palestra. The Atalanta fullback, who played for Cagliari last season, had long been the top target for the flanks in Cristian Chivu’s 3-5-2 formation, before Chelsea’s intervention—and in particular, direct contact with new coach Xabi Alonso — convinced the 21-year-old to choose the Premier League. The deal, worth approximately fifty million euros, left a bitter taste in the mouths of Inter’s management, who are now tasked with quickly finding a viable alternative.
