In recent years the number of Maltese footballers playing for foreign clubs has been on the rise.
The latest who is likely to join this elite group is Kurt Zammit, the young Mosta FC midfielder who has been on trial with the youth squad of Clube Desportivo Nacional for the past few weeks now and is set to be offered a contract.
Nacional, based at the island of Madeira, are a renowned team in the Portuguese Primeira Liga.
A couple of years back they played in the group stages of the Europa League and the club is also famous for putting into the limelight none other than star striker Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Real Madrid forward played for Nacional between 1995-1997 before joining Sporting Lisbon and then Manchester United.
Zammit started kicking his first ball with the Naxxar Lions FC youth nursery in 1999 but in 2003 he joined neighbours Mosta, also managing a few call-ups with the senior Blues team besides regular appearances for Malta U-17.
Despite his young age, Zammit has already set his goals.
“If I succeed in getting a contract at Nacional it will be my first step to professional football outside Malta... that has been my dream ever since I started playing football,” he said.
“I want to practise and play full-time, something I cannot really achieve in my country. The style of play here is different, football is much more physical and fast and that’s what I like.
“There’s so many people who helped and supported me all along. The list is long but I want to show my appreciation to all.”
Nacional coach Jose Pedro Jacinto had words of praise for the Maltese lad.
“There’s great potential in Kurt Zammit,” he said.
“He’s quick, technically evolved with a very skilled right foot. He rarely misses a pass and reads the game very well.
“Kurt seems to have adapted well to our style as it seems he was not used to train with this kind of intensity and speed before.
“Initially, he had problems but now he seems to be okay and his progress during training has been remarkable.”
The man behind Zammit’s possible transfer to CD Nacional is Brazilian Marco Prudencio and his agency M33 Sports Business.
For the past few months, Prudencio has been monitoring Maltese youngsters very closely and also assisted some clubs to establish contacts with talented foreigners who are currently playing in the BOV Premier League.
Prudencio said Zammit’s contract talks with CD Nacional are at an advanced stage.
“There’s a verbal agreement between both parties and at the moment we’re discussing the contract with Zammit’s father as well,” Prudencio said.
“But, I am very confident the deal will go through. Later this month, we should fly to Madeira to finalise the talks.
“I have seen a lot of young players in action here in Malta. Zammit is a natural talent and, in my opinion, there are others who can really do it abroad.”