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Troisi to realise Serie A dream

21 June 2012-SBS EXCLUSIVE

james troisi carl valeri

Welcome to Italy, mate ... James Troisi, left, and fellow Socceroos player Carl Valeri (Getty)

Australia midfielder James Troisi is set to snare a dream move to Italy's Juventus after turning down a $6 million offer to play in the Persian Gulf.

Under the terms of the Italian deal, due to be officially confirmed imminently, the 23-year-old will sign for the Serie A champion which will in turn loan him out to promoted Pescara for the first year of his contract.

Troisi's father Alby, who doubles as his advisor and agent, has been working with London-based agent Frank Trimboli to secure the future of the player who quit Turkish Superliga team Kayserispor in May after a protracted dispute over unpaid wages.

Last week Troisi rejected a mega offer from Qatari club El Jaish in favour of a less lucrative but more challenging quest to test himself against the best in Europe.

“Talks with Juventus are ongoing and it looks like a deal will hopefully be done which sees him join the club and then go out to Pescara, which has just been promoted from Serie B, on a season-long loan,” Alby Troisi said.

“The plan then is for him to come back to Juventus in year two. That's where we’re at right now. It’s not totally secured yet but hopefully everything will be resolved by next week.”

The deal would make Troisi the seventh Australian to play in Serie A after Mark Bresciano, Vince Grella, John Aloisi, Paul Okon, Frank Farina and Zeljko Kalac.

Pescara won the Serie B title ahead of Torino on goal difference to return to the top flight after a 19-year absence while the Old Lady went unbeaten in winning the title by four points from AC Milan.

Fellow Australian Carl Valeri's dream of playing in Serie A was crushed when his team Sassuolo missed out on promotion after losing to Sampdoria in the playoffs.

Alby Troisi added: “If the deal goes ahead it will be a dream for James, it’s what every young player strives for.”

Troisi senior confirmed that his son’s decision was all about football, rather than cash on offer from El Jaish.

“James, at 23 years of age, has opted to test himself and see if he can reach his heights as a footballer and I support him all the way,” he added.

“Hopefully it’s the right call, if all goes well. As a young boy he wanted to be the very best he could and he’s stayed true to his word.

Adelaide-raised Troisi, who began his career with Premier League Newcastle United before moving to Turkey’s Genclerbirligi, was left out of the Socceroos squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Oman and Japan to sort out his future and will be pushing hard for a return to the fold for September’s qualifier in Jordan.

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