Dudu Awat finally leaves Deportivo

Israel's number one could make his Mallorca debut against Barca at the Nou Camp.

By ALLON SINAI
dudu awat 88 ap (photo credit: )
dudu awat 88 ap
(photo credit: )
Dudu Awat could make his debut for Real Club Deportivo Mallorca against Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Saturday after signing for the Spanish strugglers on Monday. The move from Deportivo La Coruna, estimated to be worth around a million euros, ended one of the most painful periods in the Israel national team goalkeeper's career. Although Awat helped La Coruna escape relegation last season, he fell out with coach Miguel Angel Lotina after getting into a fight with fellow Deportivo shotstopper Gustavo Munua a year ago. During the summer Awat was cut from the squad and didn't play for the team at all this campaign, even missing out on an Intertoto Cup clash with Israeli team Bnei Sakhnin in July. The goalie has finally found his redemption, signing a reported three-and-a-half year contract, although he won't have an easy task ahead of him. Mallorca is currently just one point above of the drop zone in La Liga and will be hoping Awat's vast experience at struggling clubs will prove vital in the team's fight against relegation. "This is a great opportunity for me," said Awat upon his arrival at the Balearic Island. "All I was hoping for was to be given a chance to play and Mallorca provides me with that. I'm arriving at a very good team and I'm very happy to be here." This will be the former Maccabi Haifa star's third club in Spain after playing alongside Yossi Benayoun at Racing Santander before joining La Coruna. "I've left this period at La Coruna behind me and I trained very hard to get to the position where another team has decided to sign me," Awat said. "After not playing for five months I want to get off on the right foot in Mallorca. I'm 100 percent fit as I've been training hard during my entire period out. This is a big chance for me and I hope to make the most of it." Awat, who has played in Spain for six years, making 155 appearances for Santander and Deportivo, said he hoped his experience would prove key for Mallorca. "I want to help Mallorca any way I can and although the team is struggling at the moment I know there is a strong squad here which deserves to be placed higher in the standings," he said.