Rowen Muscat will continue the rest of the season at Ascoli.

Rowen Muscat is relishing the opportunity to prove himself in the Serie B after agreeing terms to leave Birkirkara and join Ascoli Picchio FC 1898 in the January transfer window.

On Monday, Birkirkara and the Italian club tied up a deal that will see the 24-year-old moving on loan until the end of the season with Ascoli having the obligation of making the move permanent next summer.

This will be Muscat’s second stint away from the BOV Premier League after playing in the Hungarian league for Dunaujvaros PASE in the opening half of the 2014-15 campaign.

“I’m really geared up to start training and playing for my new club Ascoli,” Muscat told Times of Malta yesterday.

“After leaving Dunaujvaros I returned to Birkirkara but it had always been on the back of my mind that I would move to an-other foreign club in future.

“Last summer, after the Europa League match against West Ham, I had an offer to play in Cyprus but decided not to rush as the conditions did not suit me.

“Now, it seems that the decision to bide my time worked out well as the Serie B is a more attractive league. I think I’m among the first Maltese players to play at such high level in Italy so I want to show that I deserved this chance.”

Ascoli are currently struggling in the championship and languishing in the bottom half of the standings.

Two other foreign players were on trial at Ascoli lately but coach Devis Mangia, a former Italy U-21 mentor, opted for Muscat.

“I haven’t spoken directly with Mr Mangia yet but my agent told me that he was very keen to have me in his squad and that is very important for me,” Muscat, who will travel to Italy for a medical on Monday, said.

“I know that playing abroad will not be easy at first. However, I’m heading to Ascoli with a lot of belief as I know that in the last few months I played against some great sides with the national team and my performances were very good.

“That makes me feel more confident that I can make the grade abroad.”

Muscat’s stint with Dunaujvaros only lasted five months as the Hungarian club ran into financial difficulties and had to part with their foreign players.

Muscat is now hoping he will enjoy a longer stint in Italy.

“Ascoli are better equipped and play in a more organised league,” Muscat said.

“I’m told that they have a three-year plan in place and their goal is to establish themselves in the Serie B. This season they had a few upsets but more new players are coming in next month and Ascoli should retain their status at the end of the season.

“I’ve always dreamed of making a living out of football so, hopefully, this transfer will be a step forward in my career. This is a great opportunity for me and I’m determined to make the most of it.”

Replacements

Rowen Muscat could become the second Birkirkara player to head to Italy next month as team-mate Zach Muscat is also attracting interest from Lega Pro outfit Akragas, based in Agrigento.

“I can confirm that Akragas are currently in talks with us to sign Zach Muscat,” Birkirkara president Adrian Delia told Times of Malta, yesterday.

“We’re engaged in negotiations with an agent who is working on this deal and a decision could be taken in the next few days.

“As a club our policy is to assist our players in moving abroad when possible. Rowen Muscat and Zach Muscat are two key players in the Birkirkara squad and they will be sorely felt.

“However, we have already started thinking on bringing in adequate replacements. We now plan to sit down with new coach Drazen Besek to identify our transfer targets in January.”

Elsewhere, this week striker Pedrinho completed his return to Balzan after agreeing terms until the end of the season.

Pedrinho, who played for Balzan on two other separate occasions, started the season with Sliema Wanderers but earlier this month he was released by the Blues after persistent disciplinary problems.

Pembroke Athleta have also bolstered their options with the acquisition of the much-travelled wing-back Manolito Micallef from Mosta.

Pembroke Athleta confirmed that Micallef had penned a three-year contract.