Fabiani's Move to Beitar Jerusalem Looks Likely Despite Failed Medical

Argentine striker Cristian Fabiani had a tough day yesterday. In the morning, the Lanus player was told by Beitar Jerusalem officials that he had not passed his medical test. By the evening, however, scout Dudu Dahan and assistant coach Emillio Camisso had persuaded head coach Osvaldo Ardiles to give Fabiani a chance, and the player known in his home country as "the monster" looks set to make the switch to Malha.

"I can't understand what has been going on for the past 24 hours," said Fabiani. "Physically, I am perfectly healthy. I have no medical problems and I believe I will sign tomorrow."

The player's agent, Ricardo Kantervic, was surprised by the reports that Fabiani had failed his medical. "Coach Ardiles was very satisfied with what he saw of Fabiani. Only last week, he was still playing for his club in Argentina. It's true that he has a little extra weight, but that's Fabiani. He hasn't trained for a week, but he burns it off very quickly."

"All the terms of the deal will be concluded today," said Beitar chairman Vladimir Shklar. "I don't know where the rumors that we wanted to drop the deal came from. Fabiani is a good player and the chances are 80 percent that he will sign for Beitar Jerusalem."

However, sources at the club said yesterday that Beitar is likely to sign the striker on a contract with an exit clause allowing it to release him in January, ahead of the transfer window.

"It isn't as if the situation is that we have only two strikers and we are under pressure to make a signing," sources at the club said. "Either we'll take him until January, or we'll give up on the deal. He isn't our only option."