An agreement has been reached between Sliema Wanderers and Italian defender Mauro Di Lello whereby the player and the club are to part company.

Last week, the club complained that the player had failed to show up for training in preparation for the new season. His contract was to expire in two years’ time.

It is not yet known whether Di Lello will remain in Malta with another club or go back home.

This move now leaves Sliema in a position where they have a foreign player’s vacancy. In fact, they now have just two foreigners among their ranks – goalkeeper Murphy Akanji and striker Alexandre Madzar. It now looks possible for Sliema to engage a third foreigner.

The Blues were thought to be among a list of Premier League clubs interested in Msida’s Nigerian striker Ibrahim Babatunde, but the latter is now expected to go to Austria for a trial.