Maccabi Tel Aviv is considering signing Nikola Maras

Maccabi Tel Aviv confirmed this morning (Saturday) at a press conference that it is continuing its efforts to strengthen the squad. One of the candidates currently under consideration is Nikola Maras, a 30-year-old Serbian defender who was released a few days ago from the Spanish club Alaves, despite holding a contract until 2027. Alaves explained that it made the decision "based on an internal report that examined the defender's output throughout his time at the club."

Maras (1.89 meters) has a rich resume: since the 2019/20 season, he has played in Spain for Almeria, Rayo Vallecano, Alaves, Levante, Sporting Gijon, and Mirandes, where he played on loan last year and recorded 7 appearances in the Spanish second division. In addition, he previously recorded two appearances for the senior Serbian national team (2016, 2017). His market value on "Transfermarkt" stands at 600,000 euros, but if he arrives, it will be on a free transfer.

In Spain, it was claimed that Alaves recently examined the decline in Maras's performance and even "identified that the defender is investing less and less in training." The club stated in an official media release regarding his release:

"In order to prepare this report, various objective parameters related to his sports activity were examined, based on reputable platforms and data concerning workloads and the player's behavior in training."

"During the procedure, Nikola Maras had the opportunity to provide an explanation and defend his claims. After the established procedure was completed, Alaves notified the player of the termination of his contract."

Maras previously joined Alaves on loan when it was in the second division, and when the club was promoted, his purchase clause (1.5 million euros) from Almeria was automatically activated—but he failed to integrate into the lineup on a regular basis.