An Israeli soccer player has turned down a multi-million dollar contract with a United Arab Emirates club due to its condition that he join the Emirati national team, relinquishing his eligibility to play for Israel, Hebrew-language outlet Ynet reported on Sunday.
“They believed in me in a way that didn’t make sense, like I was Lionel Messi landing there,” Tai Abed-Kassus, 21, told Ynet.
The young Jewish prospect revealed that the Abu Dhabi-based Al-Jazira Club was willing to offer him a contract worth millions of dollars, coupled with around $83,000 for every point earned in the UAE Pro League.
Abed related that the Emirati owners had envisioned him as the star of the UAE national team.
“But I couldn’t agree to give up the Israeli national team. My country is my pride, representing it is the greatest honor, especially during this time. No one will take away my dream of leading my homeland to a major tournament. I’m first and foremost Israeli. No amount of money—and this was crates of money—can buy me. I’m Israeli, period,” he was quoted as saying.
The attacking midfielder joined on Jan. 21 Spain’s club Levante that plays in the country’s top La Liga division.
Abed spoke about his reception in Spain, a country which has made headlines in the past year for its hostility toward Israel.
“I still received hateful messages on social media, with Palestinian flags, but in the group I was welcomed warmly. Full respect—they appreciated that I came from Eindhoven,” he told Ynet.
“I’m someone who believes in God; everything comes from above. I’m very satisfied. At 21, I fulfilled a dream of reaching the Spanish league. And I’m telling you—I’m not settling for this. I don’t want to stop here,” Abed continued.
He said that his dream is to play for Real Madrid, and that in the next six months he will do everything to help Levante stay in Spain’s top division.
Abed, from Tel Aviv, was born to an Israeli family of Sephardic Jewish roots. His father is a businessman and owner of two kosher meat restaurants.
In 2021, he joined the Dutch’s PSV Eindhoven’s youth team from Hapoel Tel Aviv Football Club.
