Sam Magri will soon be eligible to represent Malta in international football after his application for a Maltese passport was approved.
The English-born defender has been on the Malta FA’s radar for a long time but discussions between the two parties were stepped up in the last few months after Magri indicated his willingness to pledge his international future to Malta.
Sources have told Times of Malta that Magri is due to travel to Malta later this month to collect his new passport.
Born on March 30, 1994, Magri was regarded as a bright prospect of English football up to a few years ago. He has represented England at youth level, also making one appearance for the Under-19 side, but was unable to break into the Under-21 squad.
As a teenager, Magri joined Portsmouth’s academy before signing a two-year contract with Queens Park Rangers two years ago. In February 2012, he had a trial with Liverpool.
Magri, who was on the books of Crystal Palace last season, will play for Conference League side Dover Athletic this season.
He was offered a deal after impressing Dover Athletic manager Chris Kinnear in two pre-season friendlies last month.
Having turned 21 earlier this year, Magri is still eligible to play in Under-21 competitions and his availability would represent a boost for Malta U-21 coach Silvio Vella whose young team have made a brilliant start to their 2017 UEFA U-21 Championship qualifying campaign.
Malta have four points from their opening two Group 1 matches after following up their goalless draw in Moldova with a 2-1 victory away to Latvia.
Malta coach Pietro Ghedin is also reportedly eager to assess Magri’s qualities after receiving positive feedback about the defender who can also play at right-back.
In the last few months, the MFA Technical Centre have intensified their drive to earmark and lure players who qualify to play for the national teams either through their parents or grandparents, as in Magri’s case, or because they have been married to a Maltese for five years.
Nigerian-born striker Alfred Effiong has already made four appearances for Malta since obtaining a Maltese passport in February. The Qormi striker made international headlines in June after scoring a stunning goal in the 2-0 win over Lithuania in a friendly match at the National Stadium.
Cameroonian winger Njongo Priso is another player who is in the process of applying for a Maltese passport while former Southampton Academy trainee Jordan Williams, who has signed for St Andrews, also qualifies for Maltese citizenship through his late grandmother.
Priso rejoined Valletta in the close season after turning out for a host of overseas clubs in the last four years.
A nagging foot problem prevented Priso from figuring for Valletta in their Europa League games against Welsh side Newtown AFC but the former Msida speedster is coming on well since resuming training with the rest of the City squad.
On Saturday, Priso hit a brace in Valletta’s 4-0 win over Melita in the St Andrews tournament. Calictus Umeh and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza scored the other goals for Valletta whose coach Paul Zammit fielded two young American players who are having a trial with the club.
Kyle O’Brien, a 25-year-old midfielder, and 19-year-old striker James Togbah, came on in the second half of Saturday’s game at the Luxol Stadium.
Meanwhile, Valletta have reached an agreement with fellow Premier League club Balzan over Maxim Focsa.
The Moldovan defender, who signed for the Citizens this summer, has joined Balzan on a season-long loan.
After securing the signing of Brazilian flank defender Romeu Romao on a two-year deal, Zammit is now focusing his efforts on recruiting a foreign striker.
Zammit has reportedly set sights on an Argentinian forward and talks over his move to Valletta are progressing well.
Muscat in Pisa
Birkirkara defender Zach Muscat has flown out to Italy for discussions with Lega Pro club AC Pisa 1909.
Muscat, who turns 22 later this month, is expected to take part in some training sessions with Pisa who are willing to hand the Malta defender a contract.
According to reports in Italy, Pisa could be the subject of a takeover bid from young entrepreneur Alessandro Ruggeri, the former president of Serie A club Atalanta.
An American businessman had also shown interest in buying the Lega Pro club.
Sliema boost
Sliema Wanderers have won the pre-season Mosta tournament with a game to spare.
The Blues, led by coach Stephen Azzopardi, secured top spot in the six-team competition after winning all their four matches so far – vs Naxxar Lions 1-0, Mosta 2-0, Balzan 3-1 and Qormi 1-0.
Sliema’s last game is against Pembroke Athleta tomorrow.