Ashdod SC midfielder Nir Biton may be on verge of making a shock move to the English giant Manchester City.
By ALLON SINAI
Ashdod SC midfielder Nir Biton returned to Israel on Wednesday after a week-long trial at Manchester City, believing he is on the verge of making a shock move to the English giant.The 20-year-old spent the past week training with the first team of the Premier League leader and relished every moment in Manchester.“It was an experience of the highest possible level,” Biton said upon his arrival at Ben-Gurion Airport.“I was at a world class club and all in all they hosted me perfectly. They made me feel like a part of Manchester City.“From day one I focused on trying to impress the coaching staff. I was a little excited at the start, but I think that it went well overall and it was a really amazing experience.”While Biton didn’t want to comment on his chances of joining City, his agent Dudu Dahan believes his client is on course to being signed by the richest club in world soccer.“We didn’t go there for a holiday,” Dahan said. “We took this trial very seriously and I think Nir did his job the best way possible and we are now very positive about the future.”Dahan said that he was told by City’s coaching staff that they are interested in bringing in Biton, who will only complete his mandatory IDF service later this year.“In Biton’s final training session I spoke to the coaching staff and they told me that they are interested in Nir,” Dahan said.“I don’t want to give too many details, but I am very happy that we received this news. I also want to add that there are other clubs that are interested in signing Biton right now. These are very respectable clubs in Europe, but our preference is City in light of the amazing treatment he was given and the way he blended in with some of the best players in the world.
“We are getting ready to begin negotiations and we will also speak with the IDF so that Nir will be able to leave for Manchester in the next two weeks.”