“I was in Israel for 13 years, my girls were born there speak Hebrew and I was not given citizenship and Miguel Vitor did. I have nothing against him but why is he yes and I do not? Israel gave me a lot but I also gave her. What am I a leper? Why is there one law? To Pedro Galban and one case to Miguel Vitor? “
This monologue belongs to Pedro Galban. It has been almost three years since one of the greatest foreigners who have been here and the greatest foreign scorer of all time has been forced to leave the country. 21 suitcases, whole life he left with him and flew back to Argentina. 300 kilometers from Buenos Aires he is trying to build with his family something new. The girls, who were born in Israel, still speak fluent Hebrew, miss friends in Israel and are in touch with them on social networks and WhatsApp.
“Israel is my first home not the second home. I am more Israeli than Argentine but they did not give me a chance,” Galban said. Despite widespread support from the sports arc, the Interior Ministry refused to allow him to stay. The sports channel’s request to Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked to ask what made Vitor different from Galban was not answered.
As mentioned, Galban, who arrived in Israel in the summer of 2008 and became one of the players associated with Bnei Yehuda (and also moved to Maccabi Petah Tikva, Hapoel Ashkelon, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Hapoel Marmorek and Hapoel Rishon Lezion), was required to leave the country ten years after his visa expired. In December 2018, he signed with Rishon LeZion, but after this season ended – he chose to leave Israel voluntarily, despite a long public struggle that he managed and failed.
