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Former Serie A striker Manuel Pucciarelli is expected to sign with a Melbourne side, according to his agent. Speaking to Italian newspaper Tutto Mercato Pucciarelli, the Italian newspaper’s agent reportedly said:
“We have an opportunity abroad. We are close to a possibility in Australia. An opportunity for both parties: for Melbourne to secure a player with experience in Italy, for Manuel to play in the Champions League. It’s a high level championship â€.
From this admission, we can deduce that the club in question is Melbourne City because its victory in 2020-21 makes them the only Melburnian club to have qualified for the AFC Champions League 2022.
According to Italian newspaper Tifosi Palermo, Pucciarelli was recently released from Serie B team AC Chievo Verona. Tifosi Palermo confirms Tutto Mercato’s link with a Melbourne-based club.
If Pucciarelli signed with City, the Victorian club would gain a player with more than ten years of experience in Italy. The forward started his career with Serie B club Empoli FC in 2010-11. He remained with the club until 2019. Empoli was promoted to Serie A in 2013-14.
Pucciarelli secured two loans during his time with Empoli, first with Serie D club Follonica Gavorrano in 2011-12 and then with Serie A rivals Chievo Verona from 2017 to 2019. He signed a permanent deal with Chievo in 2019 and then was temporarily loaned out to Serie B squad Delfino Pescara in 2019-20. He also spent time on loan with UAE club Dibba Al-Fujairah last season.
The 30-year-old has been widely used as a second forward or false nine in his career. In his 230 Italian league appearances, he managed to score 36 goals. 16 of them were Serie A goals where he also made 7 assists.
If City’s move goes through, it will be the club’s third new signing of the offseason. Forward Matthew Leckie and defender Jordon Hall have joined the champions on a free transfer.
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