Monesterolo poised to join club in Kuwait

Sebastian Monesterolo yesterday left Malta on his way to Kuwait where a top-division club is waiting to secure his signature.

After The Times reported on Tuesday that two clubs in Arab countries were interested in signing Valletta's hot-shot, events evolved at a fast pace over the past two days.

Daddy Okeke, the former Nigerian defender who had a long spell with Lija Athletic, is believed to have prepared all the groundwork for Monesterolo's imminent move to Kuwait by sending a DVD of the Argentine forward to a friend in Holland who runs a football management agency.

Speaking to The Times from Holland yesterday, Okeke confirmed that a foreign club had made an offer to Valletta to sign Monesterolo with immediate effect.

"Negotiations are at an advanced stage and the deal is close to being concluded," Okeke said, without disclosing the identity of Monesterolo's suitors.

Sources have confirmed to The Times that Monesterolo's next destination is Kuwait.

Okeke said Monesterolo has been offered a lucrative contract until the end of the season.

The 23-year-old, who has proved a big hit with Valletta since joining them in January last year and is the leading marksman in the Premier League with 16 goals, yesterday hastily arranged to fly out to the Gulf state via London after receiving Valletta's conditional permission to discuss personal terms with his suitors.

"At this stage, I can't say much because the deal has yet to be finalised," Monesterolo told The Times just before he left the island.

"I'm travelling to Kuwait to hold discussions with the club who asked for my services but I will return to Malta in the next two days."

Monesterolo, who played for Buenos Aires giants Boca Juniors in his youth, has claimed that the lure of a money-spinning move was not the prime motivation for his decision to take up this challenge.

"I really believe that this move would be a step forward in my career," Monesterolo said. "This transfer could help me fulfil my lifetime ambition of playing in a top league sooner rather than later.

"I will be disappointed to leave Valletta but this opportunity is good for my career and also for my family. But, as I said, we'll have to wait and see."

Paul Spiteri, the Valletta executive vice-president, confirmed that they are close to concluding talks with representatives of an unnamed club over Monesterolo's transfer.

"Valletta are currently in discussion with an unnamed club who want to sign Monesterolo before the end of the January transfer window," Spiteri said.

"We are doing our best to secure an adequate compensation fee for Monesterolo.

"I can't stress enough how reluctant we were to enter into any transfer dealings for Monesterolo but the offer of this club had to be considered seriously in view of the fact that the player will be entitled to leave for free in June."

It is believed that Valletta are set to receive close to Lm20,000 for the transfer.

The Times has also learnt that the Maltese connection in Kuwait will not be restricted to Monesterolo, assuming the latter completes his move there.

Bosnian Ziya Yildiz, the former Rabat Ajax and Floriana coach, has been in charge of a top Kuwaiti team since the start of the 2006-2007 season.