The agent of new Crystal Palace signing Anan Khalaili has explained why his client was unable to join Inter despite them being his ‘first choice’, and claims that it only took two minutes to get the all-clear from doctors in the UK when a cardiac issue came up during his medical.
Crystal Palace have recently announced their signing of right winger Khalaili on a permanent, long-term deal from Union Saint-Gilloise.
Official: Anan Khalaili, previously linked with a move to Inter, joins Crystal Palace on a permanent transfer from Union Saint-Gilloise (via www.cpfc.co.uk)
The Israel international had been on the verge of joining Inter earlier this summer and had even traveled for medicals with his agent, Boaz Goren, but later saw the move collapse due to Italian laws surrounding cardiac issues.
The specific issue was that Khalaili failed to obtain a health certificate from the CONI (Italian Olympic Committee), the body that oversees all sporting activity throughout the country. All athletes, regardless of the sport, must obtain this certificate before they are allowed to compete professionally.
The medical examinations that Khalaili was subjected to flagged issues during the cardiac stress part of the test, and this meant that he was not given the all-clear from CONI and is therefore not currently eligible to play professionally in Italy.
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – OCTOBER 01: Anan Khalaili of R. Union Saint-Gilloise looks dejected during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between R. Union Saint-Gilloise and Newcastle United FC at RSC Anderlecht Stadium on October 01, 2025 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
These rules are considerably stricter in Italy compared to the other major football-playing nations in Europe, which is why Khalaili has been allowed to join Crystal Palace, but not Inter.
Similarly, Christian Eriksen and Edoardo Bove were not allowed to play in Serie A with internal defibrillators, but have been allowed to play in England with Brentford, Manchester United and Watford.
Khalaili agent: ‘Inter first choice, we laughed a few minutes after transfer collapsed’
Khalaili’s agent, Goren, has since had an opportunity to discuss the whole ordeal in an interview on Israeli radio.
“We were sitting in our hotel rooms, Anan was in the room next to mine, one wall separating us. I went across to his room and told him that the matter was beyond repair,” Goren recalled (via fcinternews.it).
“Four minutes later he was back in my room and we started laughing,” he continued. “Let’s laugh about it, I said. Let’s move on. I’ve experienced these extreme situations before.
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – MAY 14: Anan Khalaili of Union Saint-Gilloise poses for a photo with the Trophy during celebrations following his teams 3-1 win in the Coupe de Belgique Final match between Union Saint-Gilloise and RSC Anderlecht at Stade Roi Baudouin on May 14, 2026 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)
“Surely he won’t play in Italy until the protocol changes, but in England, the doctors didn’t take any more than two minutes to give him the go-ahead when the issue came up.”
Goren went on to explain that Inter had always been Khalaili’s first-choice this summer and that Crystal Palace were a firm second.
“All of the top sides across Europe that play in a 3-5-2 wanted Anan. We did a lot of work internally and took all the options available to him under consideration. Inter were always the first choice because they play with that formation and Crystal Palace were in second.”