Birkirkara goalkeeper Miguel Ángel Martínez could be on his way back to Italy, with several Italian media outlets reporting that the Spanish shot-stopper is on the verge of joining Serie C side Livorno.
According to Il Tirreno, Livorno are in the final stages of completing the signing of the 31-year-old goalkeeper, with an official announcement expected in the coming hours. The move would see Martínez reunite with head coach Cristiano Lucarelli, under whom he previously played during his spell at Catania.
Martínez arrived at Birkirkara ahead of last season and established himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, making 32 appearances across all competitions. Before moving to Malta, the Madrid-born goalkeeper enjoyed a lengthy career in Italian football with Catania, Triestina, Pordenone and Reggina, having also come through the youth systems of Real Madrid and Getafe.
A departure would not come as a major surprise, with Birkirkara already strengthening between the posts this summer by signing 25-year-old Maltese international Rashed Al-Tumi, a move that has provided the Stripes with another strong option in goal ahead of the new campaign.
Should Martínez’s move be completed, it would mark a swift return to Italian football after just one season in the Maltese Premier League, while giving Livorno an experienced goalkeeper familiar with both the Italian game and Lucarelli’s methods.
