Cristian Battocchio joined Maccabi Tel Aviv on a two-year-deal with an option for a further season. The diminutive midfielder who made 20 appearances for Italy’s U-20 and U-21’s, joins Maccabi on a free transfer after spending the last two seasons in France playing for Stade Brest.

The Rosario born midfielder who began his playing career at the Youth Academy of Newll’s Old Boys, joined Italian club Udinese in 2009 at the age of 16. In 2012 Battocchio joined Watford on loan and after impressing the Hornets boss Gianfranco Zola made the move to Vicarage Road permanent in 2013.

The arrival of former Maccabi coach Slavisa Jokanovic at Watford in 2014 saw Battocchio return to Italy and join Virtus Entella on loan before switching to Brest for which he scored 8 goals in 35 appearances last season.

Over the course of the 2017/18 season, Battocchio appeared in 40 matches (24 league) and was an integral part in helping the Club advance to the group stages of the Europa League. He scored one goal before ending his campaign early due to an injury.

Yonatan Cohen grew up through the ranks of the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Department and in 2015/16 he was loaned to Beitar Tel Aviv/Ramle of the Leumit League and scored 11 goals. In the 2016/17 Cohen went to Bnei Yehuda on loan and won the State Cup with the Club. The striker scored three goals and assisted on four more in league play while adding 4 additional goals in State Cup action. In 2017/18 Cohen again was loaned to Bnei Yehuda and made 37 appearances across all competitions while scoring 8 goals.

In the summer of 2018, Cohen returned to Maccabi and took part in the Club’s preseason training camp.

ליטו וידיגאל מונה למאמן מכבי תל אביב ב-11 בפברואר 2017, כשהגיע באמצע העונה מקבוצת ארוקה בפורטוגל. המאמן, שנולד באנגולה ואף שיחק ואימן בנבחרתה הלאומית, העביר את מרבית הקריירה שלו בפורטוגל – הן כשחקן והן כמאמן. מלבד הליגה בפורטוגל אימן גם עונה אחת בקפריסין בא.א.ל לימסול. בעונת 2014/15 היה חלק מעונה מוצלחת של קבוצת בלננשש בה סיימה הקבוצה את העונה במקום השישי והשיגה כרטיס לאירופה. עונה לאחר מכן הצליח לשחזר את ההישג עם קבוצת ארוקה הצנועה. תחת הדרכתו של המאמן ארוקה מפורטוגל סיימה את העונה במקום החמישי, העפילה לאירופה ורשמה למעשה את הישג השיא בהיסטוריה של המועדון.

tbkAAs

In June of 2017, Maccabi Tel Aviv reached an agreement with Spanish club Granada CF to buy Omer Atzily as he signed a four-year-deal at the club.

The winger, who began his playing career at Maccabi’s youth department before leaving to Ironi Rishon Lezion where he made his senior debut, joined Beitar Jerusalem in 2013. Azily’s successful spell at Beitar which saw him score 19 goals in 78 appearances, generated interested from Granada who signed the player and for which he made nine appearances in the 2016/17 campaign.

The 2017/18 campaign saw Atzily play a key part in helping the Club advance to the Europa League Group Stages, however the winger only played in 17 league matches and scored 10 goals due to an injury.