Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published Tuesday, 04 November 2025 20:48 / Updated Tuesday, 04 November 2025 20:56
Ofri Arad (27), Kairat Almaty's midfielder, is under no illusions that his team can upset European runner-up Giuseppe Meazza. Interviewed by Gazzetta dello Sport, the Israeli international confessed that if he does cause Chivu's side to suffer their first defeat in the Champions League, he will return home on foot: “Not really, just kidding… at least I'm taking the bus to Kazakhstan.”
After the extremely long and tiring journey to Lisbon, for the match with Sporting (1-4), at the debut in the Champions League, Kairat Almaty traveled to Italy, to Milan, where they will face Inter tomorrow evening, from 22:00. The champion from Kazakhstan seems a sure victim of “Giuseppe Meazza”, but the guests know they have nothing to lose.
At Kairat we have a group of young people with a big soul and a varied composition. We are two Israelis, four Brazilians, two Belarusians and two Portuguese. We won two championships in a row, the last one ten days ago. We are all very united
Offer Aradthe midfielder of Kairat Almaty
Arad: “When I came from Haifa, I didn't know where Almaty was!”
“On the first trip, it was a shock. It takes less time to get to New York from Milan, but our club is well organized. I flew on a private plane with all the staff. They thought of everything. The problem, apart from the stress, is that you don't know what to expect when you're riding so many thousands of kilometers”Ofri Arad confessed in the discussion with those from Gazzetta dello Sport.
Ofri Arad, the midfielder of Kairat Almaty, in the play-off with Celtic Glasgow, in which he qualified after the penalties / Photo: Imago
At the end of August, in the play-offs, we played Celtic in Scotland. This is after trips to Slovenia, Finland and Slovakia. I've been on the road for 11 hours due to a fuel problem. We stopped mid-flight to refuel.
45,000of kilometers, those from Kairat Almaty will fly for the four trips from the Champions League group, to Lisbon, Milan, Copenhagen and London. They will do more than circumnavigate the globe
We arrived tired, rested overnight and then played with big heads because of the time difference… Still, we drew 0-0. In the return, we won on penalties and we qualified in the groups”, the same 27-year-old attacking midfielder narrated the odyssey of the preliminaries.
At first, when I came from Haifa, I didn't even know where Almaty was. It wasn't easy for me. The wife was seven months pregnant and arrived later. Besides, I had never seen snow! I remember my first meeting with the club's bosses in 2024. They told me the goal was to reach the Champions League in five years. It only took two of us, so we are writing the most beautiful football story
Offer Aradthe midfielder of Kairat Almaty
He took the jerseys of Huijsen and Tchouameni. Will Barella follow?
Asked by the Italians what memories he was left with after the first three matches in the League, Arad revealed: “When we played against Real Madrid, I took Huijsen and Tchouaméni. Now it's harder for me to choose between Mkhitaryan, Calhanoglu and Barella.
Ofri Arad, the midfielder of Kairat Almaty, in the match lost at home to Real Madrid (0-5) / Photo: Imago
The last one is my favorite. Few teams in Europe have a midfield like Inter's, but we don't fear anyone.”
The Israeli was impressed by the stadium where Chivu's team plays: “San Siro is … wow. What can I say? Let's hope the jet lag gives us a break this time. What would I do if I won? I would go back to Almaty… on foot. No, just kidding, maybe by bus.”
