Monesterolo settling in Israel but still craves City return

The prospect of joining AEK Larnaca in the emerging Cypriot league had helped to assuage Sebastian Monesterolo's sadness at leaving Valletta last summer.

Since bursting into the limelight as a free-scoring striker in the early days of his first stint with Valletta in the second half of the 2005-06 season, Monesterolo has always enjoyed a special rapport with the City fans.

Proof of this, if any were needed, came in July 2007 when the Argentine was given a hero's welcome at the airport upon returning to Malta to rejoin the Citizens after a short spell with Kuwait Sporting Club.

The City faithful entertained high hopes at the time that Monesterolo's stay with Valletta would last longer than one season but after scoring 19 goals to help the Whites end a seven-year wait for the Premier League title, the nippy striker was on the move again.

Having agreed a two-year contract with AEK Larnaca, Monesterolo and his family headed for Cyprus ahead of the start of the new season.

Everything was going well, or so it seemed, for Monesterolo who left a good impression in his early outings for Larnaca but a few days before the end of the August transfer window, he suddenly found himself without a club.

It turned out that Monesterolo's move to AEK Larnaca was dependent on his obtaining an Italian passport but back in his home country, applications for Italian passports were put on hold in the wake of a scandal over forged documents.

With time running out, Monesterolo quickly sounded out his agent and other contacts to try and find a new club. He mulled over the idea of going back to Argentina and wait until January to resume his career but on learning that an Israeli club, Hapoel Bnei Lod, were prepared to offer him a contract, Monesterolo was on his way to the Holy Land.

"I had signed a two-year contract with AEK Larnaca but the deal fell through because I didn't manage to obtain an Italian passport," Monesterolo told The Times from his new home in Lod.

"In Argentina, there was a big story about false passports at the time and they stopped the whole process. This meant that my application was frozen and it obviously affected my move to Larnaca.

"All this happened a few days before the end of the transfer window. When I learned of Hapoel Bnei Lod's offer, I accepted to go there. To be honest, I didn't have time to look for a better option.

"I made contact with Sliema Wanderers after they expressed an interest in signing me but then I chose to go to Israel. I had been told that Hapoel Bnei Lod were building a team to fight for promotion."

Hapoel Bnei Lod have looked anything but promotion stuff this season, gaining only two points from their opening six league matches.

"I have played four league games for the team because my international certificate came in later than the club had expected," Monesterolo said. "We only have two points and I can't say I'm happy with the results and performances.

"I want to play and win but this hasn't been the case so far. We have done better in the cup competition (Toto Cup) for second division teams and we are in a good position to reach the next round.

"However, our main priority is the league. The club have just changed coach to try and revive the team's fortunes."

During his time with Valletta, Monesterolo forged a reputation as one of the best strikers in Maltese football thanks to his eye for goal but with Hapoel Bnei Lod, the Argentine has had to adapt to a new position as left winger.

"With Hapoel, I've been playing mostly on the left of midfield," Monesterolo observed. "It's not my favourite position but at the same time, playing on the left presented me with a new challenge."

Settling in Lod proved something of an uphill struggle for Monesterolo, his wife and their two young sons but they are slowly getting used to life in Israel.

"Lod is a small city near Tel Aviv," Monesterolo said.

"At first, we found it difficult to settle here because most of the people we met didn't speak English. However, things are getting better now, thanks mainly to the support and help of some Argentine people living in the area."

Monesterolo has signed a one-year deal with Hapoel but the agreement contains a clause allowing both parties to terminate the contract next January.

"I can join another club during the January transfer window but it's still early to start thinking about what I will do in two months' time," he said.

"If there's an opportunity to move to a better club, I will certainly consider it but I want to wait until mid-December to analyse my situation.

"At the moment, I don't have any offers."

A return to Maltese football appeals to Monesterolo but he was quick to point out that rumours about a possible switch to Floriana, Valletta's bitter rivals, were untrue.

"I really don't know where those rumours about Floriana came from," Monesterolo said.

"I was at home when I started to receive messages and phone calls from some of my friends in Valletta, asking me if it was true that I was going to join Floriana. I've not had any discussions with Floriana.

"I'm also a bit disappointed with the Valletta supporters because they know that I have no intention of playing for Floriana."

Despite his strong bond with the Valletta fans, Monesterolo admitted that the possibility of a return to the City in the near future is remote.

"I wish to rejoin Valletta one day but there is little chance of that happening soon," Monesterolo said.

"I know that it's difficult for me to return because the club have got other plans, they want to engage new foreign players."

Valletta currently have two vacancies for foreign players after they parted company with Brazilian striker Marcelo Tolomeotti. Whatever the future holds for Monesterolo, any striker joining Valletta faces a tall order to fill his void.