Title: Failed Transfer of National Team Goalkeeper Reveals Internal Club Dynamics
A high-profile transfer of Iran’s national team goalkeeper, Alireza Beiranvand, to Esteghlal Football Club collapsed at the last moment, with the club’s former CEO pointing to internal interference as the cause.
A Deal That Was Almost Sealed
In the summer of 2023, Esteghlal was on the verge of a major transfer coup. According to former club CEO Hojjat Karimi, detailed negotiations with Alireza Beiranvand had been successfully concluded. An agreement was reached on a two-season contract, with a structured financial plan involving both the club and a sponsor to meet the player’s terms.
The Sudden Collapse
Karimi insists the deal’s failure was not due to a breakdown in talks. “The negotiations were successful,” he stated. However, he claims that immediately after the agreement, what he described as “enemies of the club” contacted Beiranvand’s agent, creating complications. The decisive blow, according to Karimi, came from the head of the club’s assembly, Mr. Ghorbanzadeh, who informed him that any contract signed would not be approved.
Leadership and Resignation
Faced with this opposition and citing a lack of necessary authority to execute his duties, Karimi submitted his resignation. He further elaborated that this pattern of interference extended beyond the transfer, claiming that certain individuals obstructed other significant projects, including a major sponsorship deal, because he refused to acquiesce to their demands.
The Official Reason
In his final remarks, Karimi emphasized that the club did not fail in the negotiation process with Beiranvand. Instead, he attributed the collapsed transfer solely to “managerial interventions and limitations” within the club’s structure, leaving a major summer signing unrealized.