In the video: Grace’s performance (“ustarsoccer”)
A 16-year-old goalkeeper from Maccabi Petah Tikva signed at Udinese. Until a few years ago, such a message was received with great question, but after the sale of Manor Solomon to Shakhtar, the Luzon deals no longer surprise anyone. The transfer of Nitai Grace to Udinese is one of the biggest transfers , Joining the end of Podgrano who moved to Roma’s youth team from Maccabi Haifa last summer. Maccabi Petah Tikva entered the box office for 150,000 euros and the goalkeeper who was tested a year ago at Juventus, eventually signed for 3 years at Udinese. The details of the agreement, the clause that almost knocked down the deal and the way of the child who trains every day at 06:00 in the morning, to the boot country – is in front of you.
The letter from Juventus and the signing in Udinese
This transfer did not surprise the people of Maccabi Petah Tikva. Nitai Grace’s last game with the Malabes was in September, and since then he has been on the Israel-Italy line and trained in the Udinese alumni. He is destined for a player in the youth team, even though he is still a teenager, and his potential was recognized at the club while he was being tested by the “queen” of Italian football – Juventus.
In November 2019, a little over a year ago, an official letter from Juventus was received at the Maccabi Petah Tikva offices, inviting Grace to auditions at the club. The Malabes cooperated and gave permission to be tested by both Yuba and Udinese. After a few days of impressing the champions, the next step in terms The empire was a month of acclimatization.Grace was offered to live in the academy and train regularly with the team to see if he was suitable for a club of this size, before making the purchase move.However, like quite a few transfers around the world, the Corona torpedoed the deal when Yuba wanted to wait for the end The virus Then Udinese jumped on the bargain.
For almost half a year he has been training with the senior team, which is in 13th place in Serie A. All this at the age of 16. Grace lived at the Udinese academy and over time negotiated between the clubs, after it was made clear to the goalkeeper that he impressed while being tested at Juventus. He was also followed up in the boys’ team games and a decision was made to add him.
Grace moved to Italy, a significant percentage of his card remained in Israel
In most of Maccabi Petah Tikva’s transactions abroad, the Luzons take care to keep them part of a future deal. So it was with Solomon and so it was with Grace. According to the contract with the Italians, a significant percentage of the player’s card remained with the Malabes, who promised that if he returned to Israel it would only be to Maccabi Petah Tikva. No improvement fee. If another Israeli team wants to absorb him, it will have to pay the Luzons hundreds of thousands of shekels.
“This is an issue that was very important to the club,” said a source in Petah Tikva. “If the child goes at that age, we want him to succeed big time – but if he comes back, we want to be the first club he wants to return to.” When the Italians initially did not agree to him, but after negotiations the Luzons got theirs and the goalkeeper officially signed until 2024, the maximum contract for a player under 18 years old.
“Grace is an animal his age”
So what caught the eyes of the Italians? The young goalkeeper rises to a height of 1.88 and has a huge growth potential. Its advantages are athleticism and flexibility, but its main characteristic is its commitment to football and hard work. “I have not encountered for so long a character and desire as great as that of Nitai,” his agent Gilad Katsav wrote after the signing, in a deal that was closed along with Michael Zanzori.
His “military schedule” looks like this: At 06:00 in the morning, Grace is already on Maccabi Petah Tikva’s training ground for goalkeepers, while he also adheres to personal training. The goalkeeper built himself a schedule of three training sessions a day and perseverance, along with the talent, led him to the graduates of the Luzons as early as age 15. His abilities were not manifested at an early age and the player who joined the club at age 7 was marked as promising with the move to 11 vs. 11. “Nitai “He was a chubby kid at first. Eighths is less of a place to test a goalkeeper. Towards the ages of 11-12 he made the leap,” the club said.
Grace grew up in the city of Petah Tikva and has not played for any other club in Israel. Now, he has made the most significant step for him: moving to a senior league, at a young age, which will allow him to progress and develop to the maximum. The fact that he holds a European passport helped Grace. Udinese will also have to worry about the military issue, meanwhile, the burden of proof is on him after he has put himself into the reality that every Israeli youth player dreams of. Until he proves, Maccabi Petah Tikva continues, deal after deal, to build its name in the European market.
Ophir LuzonThe director of the youth department said after the signing: “Maccabi Petah Tikva wishes Nitai success in his new path after 10 years in the youth department. We are proud of our way as an Israeli club that develops young players to the highest football levels in Europe.”
Yuval Mintos, Head of the scout team, added: “Nitai is a fantastic goalkeeper and an amazing boy with great talent, I am very happy and excited for him and for the department that continues to develop and produce players for the leading teams in Europe. The combination of Nitai’s special character and great talent opened the door for him.” That this is just a stop on the way and his future is ahead of him! “
