With Msida’s Nigerian striker Ibrahim Babatunde signing a contract with Turkish top club Galatasaray in midweek, three local clubs, Sliema, Valletta and Birkirkara, are all looking for other options as they still have a foreign player vacancy.

It is an open secret that all three had shown an interest in the player’s services. Only yesterday, however, it became clear that Babatunde would have never joined Sliema and Valletta.

Both clubs had said they had agreed terms with the player before he left for a trial with an Austrian club, although this now also seems not to have been the case.

Birkirkara had also stated that they had not yet agreed terms with the player before he left, but had worked hard to see Babatunde making them his first preference.

All this has now vanished into thin air with the Nigerian striker snubbing all three clubs, even if yesterday it was unofficially claimed that Babatunde had only gone to Galatasaray for a trial!

This, however, is certainly not the case.

In fact, all three clubs are now waiting for the arrival of some foreigners who will be undergoing a trial next week.

The citizens president, Victor Sciriha told The Malta Independent, that a Brazilian striker will be arriving next week, together with Argentine striker Sebastian Monesterolo.

“We will no longer wait for Babatunde. We wanted him, but it is impossible to remain hoping for ever. If the Brazilian leaves a good impression, we will definitely have him among our ranks,” said Sciriha.

City’s foreigners so far are German midfielder Heiner Backhaus and Argentine striker Sebastian Monesterolo.

On their part, Sliema are also looking for a third foreigner.

According to club president Robert Arrigo, “...we need a midfielder and a striker to complete our squad. We have many options, both local and foreign. Now we see,” he said.

Sliema’s two foreigners so far are goalkeeper Murphy Akanji from Nigeria, and Alexsander Mazdar from Montenegro.

Birkirkara do not seem to be in a hurry to sign their third foreigner, but club chairman Victor Zammit said yesterday, the Stripes were expecting the arrival of at least four foreigners – Europeans and Africans – for a trial next week, when the team should resume training following the short break from the Intertoto Cup matches.

Birkirkara’s two foreigners at present are two defenders – Ronald Hardvich of Denmark and Emil Yantchev of Bulgaria.