Inter’s pursuit of Anan Khalaili has ended after the Israeli winger failed to pass his medical examination, the club confirmed. The 20-year-old was undergoing the final stages of his medical assessment at the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) when the issue arose, halting a deal that was nearing completion. Inter president Giuseppe Marotta revealed the news during a press conference, stating the failure to meet the required medical standards was not a decision made by Inter’s medical staff, but by CONI.
Marotta emphasized the situation was a matter of “force majeure” and cited Italian privacy laws preventing him from detailing the specific medical concerns. He expressed regret over the outcome, acknowledging the setback in Inter’s plans to reinforce the right side of their defense. The collapse of the Khalaili transfer comes after Inter previously missed out on signing another target, Palestra, further complicating their summer transfer window.
The need for a new right-sided player was heightened by the recent departure of Denzel Dumfries to Real Madrid, a move Inter did not actively seek. Dumfries’ exit left a void in the squad that the club had hoped Khalaili would fill. Inter had identified Khalaili as a potential successor, but the failed medical has forced them back to square one in their search. The club is now actively seeking alternative options to provide coach Cristian Chivu with a complete squad ahead of the start of the season.
Khalaili currently plays for an undisclosed club, but had been identified as a promising young talent capable of contributing immediately to Inter’s squad. While the exact nature of the medical issue remains undisclosed, it is clear that it is significant enough to prevent him from being granted sporting eligibility in Italy. Inter will now accelerate their search for a replacement, hoping to find a suitable candidate before the transfer window closes.
