Samir Garci, a Tunisian-born player currently on the books of Maltese Premier League club Pietà Hotspurs, is having a trial with Italian Serie D team Cosenza.

The 24-year-old Garci has been training with the Hotspurs for a number of months but has never appeared for them in the Premier League as Pietà already had three foreign players on their books, namely Bulgarians Martin Deanov and Svetlan Kondev and Angelo Tasca, the Italian defender.

One of the three foreigners' slots became vacant last month after Tasca returned to Italy for personal reasons. Garci, who has been spoken of very highly in local football circles, was widely expected to take Tasca's place but it seems that Pietà want to await the outcome of his trial with Cosenza before making a decision on his future.

Garci, who has an Austrian passport, started his trial at Cosenza earlier this week. Before coming to Malta last September, Garci had spells with clubs in Austria, Switzerland and Germany.

Damian Iwueke, the player's friend and representative, confirmed to The Times that Garci is currently training with Cosenza's senior squad. Edward Schembri, the Pietà president, used his extensive contacts in Italy to get Garci a trial with Cosenza.

Pietà, currently languishing in bottom place in the Premier League, have developed a reputation for spotting and nurturing young players who are then transferred to Italian clubs.

In September, Schembri concluded discussions with Serie A giants Inter for the transfer of 18-year-old Hungarian midfielder Attila Filkor.

Filkor signed for the Hotspurs in August but never got to play a match for Pietà as he was soon on his way to Italy to ink a four-year-contract with Inter.

A few years back, Pietà transferred a young Valeri Bojinov to Lecce. The Bulgarian forward went on to make a name for himself in Italy and is currently playing for Juventus in the Serie B.

Estonian set for Marsaxlokk trial

Meanwhile, Premier League leaders Marsaxlokk are expected to offer a trial to an Estonian international player over the next few days.

Sources have told The Times that Marsaxlokk are now in a position to acquire the services of a new foreign player after their long dispute with English defender Chris Bart-Williams was settled by the MFA Players and Coaches Complaints Board.

The Estonian player, whose name is not yet known, last played in Sweden.

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