Anan Khalaili's proposed €30 million transfer from Union Saint-Gilloise to Inter Milan has fallen through after Italian authorities blocked the move over strict cardiac function checks, prompting a frustrated response from the Israeli international.
The two clubs had reached a full agreement valued at €25 million plus €5 million in performance-related add-ons, and the 22-year-old winger initially passed Inter's internal medical examination without issue. However, Italy's notoriously stringent regulations governing cardiac screening for professional athletes flagged irregularities during subsequent scans, leading the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) to withhold the necessary certificate of fitness required to compete in Serie A.
Khalaili, who has returned to training with the Belgian Pro League side, took to the club's official channels to express his frustration.
"I feel good, I feel healthy, I feel perfect. I am ready to play and to train hard, give my best, 100 per cent," Khalaili said. "I played 99 games in the last two years, and I played almost 90 minutes every game. I feel very good, I feel top!"
The winger also posted on social media: "Happy to be on the pitch" alongside an image of himself back in Union Saint-Gilloise training gear.
Italy's cardiac screening protocols are among the most rigorous in world football. The country's laws prevent athletes with certain cardiac conditions — including those with implanted defibrillators — from obtaining a competitive licence. This has previously affected high-profile cases such as Christian Eriksen, who was forced to leave Inter for Brentford after suffering a cardiac arrest at Euro 2021, and Edoardo Bove, who continued his career outside Italy after a heart issue was detected.
The decision ultimately rested not with Inter but with CONI, which deemed the irregularities in Khalaili's cardiac function tests significant enough to deny clearance. Despite the setback, the 22-year-old remains under contract with Union Saint-Gilloise and has made clear his desire to continue playing at the highest level.
Sources
- Football Italia: https://football-italia.net/frustrated-khalaili-failed-inter-feel-healthy/
