Double derby hero Alekasir leaves Persepolis for Sepahan
Iranian striker Issa Alekasir parted ways with Persepolis to sign a two-year contract with Persian Gulf Pro League club Sepahan as a free agent.
Alekasir, 34, is the seventh signing in a busy transfer window for Sepahan – runner-up to Persepolis in the league last season – giving Portuguese manager Jose Morais a dilemma for the No. 9 position as the Isfahan-based had already secured the services of Kaveh Rezaei, Reza Asadi, and Reza Shekari to add to the previous campaign’s top scorer Shahriyar Moghanlou in the frontline.
The Iranian forward, who contributed with 19 goals and 10 assists in 59 matches for Persepolis, leaves the Reds with mixed memories after his four-year spell at the club characterized by both success and setbacks.
The former San’at Naft striker’s first appearances in the Persepolis shirt came in the 2020 AFC Champions League, where he spearheaded the team’s progress to the semifinals – following the competition’s resumption in Qatar during the pandemic – by bagging four goals in six outings.
However, his controversial goal celebrations in a 2-0 victory over Pakhtakor in the quarterfinals was deemed as a “discriminatory gesture” by the Asian football governing body, handing the Iranian a six-month ban on the eve of the last-four clash against Saudi side Al Nassr, which also ruled him out of the 2-1 defeat against Ulsan Hyundai in the final showpiece.
On his return, Alekasir netted five in 20 games – including a late winner against archrival Esteghlal – as Persepolis lifted a fifth successive trophy in the Iranian top-flight while reaching the last-eight of the Asian elite clubs competition.
The 2021/22 campaign came to an end for Alekasir midway through the season as a torn ligament injury sidelined him for another 12 months.
With Persepolis lagging behind Sepahan and Esteghlal in the domestic league table, Alekasir’s recovery proved pivotal for Yahaya Golmohammadi’s men last term.
Alekasir came off the bench at halftime to score another derby winner in a massive 1-0 victory over Esteghlal in April to help Persepolis leapfrog the top two in the table with three games to spare before ultimately walking away with ultimate prize in May.
He also found the net against Sepahan, Golgohar, and Havadar in the Hazfi Cup to inspire the Reds to a second domestic double in four years.
Alekasir is the fifth player to leave Persepolis in the preseason after veteran midfielder Kamal Kamyabinia, Siamak Nemati, Malian forward Cheick Diabaté, and second-choice keeper Ahamd Gohari, who joined Iralco on a season-long loan contract.
With Persepolis likely to cut loose from Brazilian Leandro Pereira, Golmohammadi will have to step up pursuit for a new frontman as new signing Shahab Zahedi and Mehdi Abdi are the only established strikers in the squad.