City close in on Delvecchio

The possibility of Marco Delvecchio signing for Maltese champions Valletta moved closer to reality yesterday after the former Inter and Roma striker reached a verbal agreement with Victor Sciriha, the City club president, about joining the team in the very near future.

Delvecchio, 35, left Malta yesterday evening after making a guest appearance at a news conference announcing a sponsorship agreement between local Division One club Rabat Ajax and Fraser Eagle, a group of companies operating in the travel and transport sector.

During his brief stay in Malta, Delvecchio had talks with Sciriha, whose brother Michael is the president of Rabat Ajax.

Contacted by The Times yesterday, Sciriha said it was now a matter of when not if Delvecchio will play for Valletta.

"Delvecchio is interested in playing for Valletta and we want him to join us," Sciriha said. "We have had positive talks with Delvecchio who could start playing for us as early as January. At present, we're still awaiting the arrival of a Nigerian striker we've been pursuing for a long time but if he doesn't make it, then Delvecchio will join us in January.

"If we decide to sign two Nigerians in the next weeks, we will look to bring Delvecchio next June."

According to Sciriha, Delvecchio will be visiting Malta again later this month to watch Valletta's Premier League match against Qormi, scheduled for Nov. 15.