Emirati Businessman to Buy Jerusalem’s Beitar Soccer Club

An Emirati from royal family expressed his intention to buy half of the Israeli soccer team Beitar Jerusalem.

According to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Nahyan sent a letter to the Israeli team's owner, that shows his interest to buy some players to Al Nahyan’s team.

The deal will be considered as the first official transaction between Israel and UAE after the two countries normalized their relations recently.

According to an Israeli sports site, the Israeli team's owner asked the unnamed Emirati buyer for more than $100 million and other investments.

The deal between the two clubs will be a milestone in the Israeli soccer and which Hogeg has been trying to rehabilitate by addressing the anti-Arab sentiment of some of its fans.

Hogeg has signed on several Arab and Muslim footballers since he bought the club, a move that has alienated members of the right-wing supporters club known as La Familia.

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion on Friday spoke with Hogeg and Al Nahyan, telling them in a conference call that today was “a great moment”, as the formal talks about signing the Israeli player was launched.