Valletta’s recruitment drive shows no signs of relenting as a Brazilian forward landed in Malta yesterday to start training with the champions.
Leandro da Silva Almeida has been on Valletta’s radar for quite some time as the 28-year-old, who last played for Brazilian club Independente Tucurui, looks to possess the physical and technical attributes coach Mark Miller has been looking for in his search for a powerful forward.
Leandro’s arrival casts further doubt on the future of three other Brazilian players, Jusselio, Jhon-nattann and Ricardo, who joined Valletta last month.
The Citizens had high hopes that the South American trio would sig-nificantly enhance the quality of their squad but their performances in the pre-season Euro Cup and Champions League fell short of the standards expected by Miller.
Miller had already provided a strong indication of his dis-satisfaction with the impact of the ‘new’ foreigners as, last week, he gave Valletta the go-ahead to bring in another Brazilian midfielder, Joao Gabriel da Silva.
Gabriel, who was on the books of Slovenian champions NK Maribor, left a very good impression after coming on as a substitute in Valletta’s 4-1 defeat to Partizan Bel-grade in the first leg of their Cham-pions League second qualifying round match.
Jhonnattann, scorer of three goals in the 9-0 aggregate win over FC Lusitans, and Jusselio were left out of the starting line-up for Tues-day’s game against Partizan.
Having been deployed in mid-field in Valletta’s Euro Cup games and the matches against FC Lusitans, Ricardo was moved to centre-half against Partizan.
He looks to have improved his prospects of staying after producing a much-improved display in the heart of defence.
Elsewhere, Floriana are in ad-vanced talks to sign a partnership deal with an Albanian firm.
Well-placed sources have told The Times that the Albanians are ready to invest significantly in the financially-stricken Greens.
A Georgian businessman had also expressed an interest in buying Floriana FC but, unlike the Albania investors, he has not returned with a concrete offer.
Floriana were due to discuss the matter with the club members at a meeting yesterday evening.
The Greens, who suffered a crushing 12-0 aggregate defeat to Swedish side IF Elfsborg in the first qualifying round of the Europa League, made an unsuccessful at-tempt to lure Pietà Hotspurs’ Al-banian coach Edmond Lufi.
After Floriana decided not to renew Joe Brincat’s contract as head coach, Ivan Woods oversaw the team’s preparations for their Europa League commitments but the veteran forward is now seeking pastures new.
Licari for Melita
Melita have begun preparations for their debut season in the top flight again under the guidance of coach Martin Gregory.
In a statement, club president Paul Zammit revealed that the Amateurs are on the verge of agreeing a deal to sign the ex-perienced Malcolm Licari.
Licari is keen on a new chal-lenge after a short, unhappy spell with Floriana.
The former Marsaxlokk forward joined the Greens in January but an adductor injury precipitated his exit from the club as Licari was told that he was no longer in Floriana’s plans.
Ħamrun Spartans, currently doing a training camp in Bulgaria, also made an approach for Licari but Melita are in pole position to clinch his signature.
Portuguese player Rudi Alinho has rejoined the Amateurs after brief stints with Mosta and Gżira, and Spanish defender Sierre Camacho has been confirmed for the new season.
Two other Spanish players are currently on trial with Melita, Zammit said.
Melita, meanwhile, have also appointed Franco Agius as head coach of their nursery.