The Malta Tourism Authority has appointed football legend Javier Zanetti  as its brand ambassador for the Maltese Islands in Italy.

Javier Zanetti  has been playing for Inter since 1995, taking the captain's armband on August 29, 1999. Internationally, he holds the record of the most capped player in the history of the Argentine national team and has played in the 1996 Olympic tournament and in two World Cups, in 1998 and 2002.

Speaking during a press conference in Milan organized to announce this agreement the Malta Tourism Authority, Chairman Gavin Gulia said: “The partnership with Javier Zanetti is one of great prestige for the Malta Tourism Authority. Zanetti is known by all Italian football fans as being a footballer of great sportsmanship, having achieved various records and he is truly one of the greatest players of modern football. The MTA has appointed Javier Zanetti as the brand ambassador for the Maltese islands in Italy for the next 3 years, with various promotional activities planned to promote further the allure of our Islands in the Italian market.”

Dr Gulia thanked the MTA’s CEO  Josef Formosa Gauci and the MTA’s Director Marketing for Southern Europe Simon Kamsky and his team for achieving this landmark agreement.

Mr Zanetti spoke about his experience in Malta last year. He said Malta was a destination that he and his family loved for the diversity of its touristic offer. He referred to the Maltese people as extremely hospitable, which made him feel very welcome and he was highly impressed by the beauty and the rich history of the islands”. He further added that he was very comfortable to work with the Malta Tourism Authority to reach this agreement and that he was honoured to be the Brand Ambassador for the Maltese Islands.”