The Newcastle Jets have signed another two experienced international players to their playing list in the lead-up to the start of the 2010/11 Hyundai A-League season next month.
The dual signing of Chinese striker Zhang Shuo and Italian midfielder Marcello Fiorentini marks a successful recruitment drive by the club.
Shuo and Fiorentini will join fellow international recruits Iraqi Ali Abbas and Jeremy Brockie from New Zealand, who both signed with the Jets earlier this year.
“(We) turned to international talent in order to acquire a few different elements to those which could be found on the domestic front,” Jets CEO John Tsatsimas said.
“We obviously welcome both of these players to the club and we look forward to their arrival in Newcastle on a more permanent basis in the near future.”
Tsatsimas said Shuo and Fiorentini were part of a group of international trialists brought to the club a few weeks ago, who were then assessed by Jets coach Branko Culina and other coaching and medical staff.
“They were very pleased with the qualities that Zhang and Marcello will bring to the playing group,” Tsatsimas said.
Shuo, 26, has forged a career in the Chinese Super League, appearing in over 130 matches for his side Tianjin Teda, while also amassing 10 caps for the national team.
Fiorentini, 29, began his career in the Italian Football League, first with Serie A club SS Lazio in the late 1990s, before moving to Pescara (Serie C) and Palazzolo (Serie D) in recent years.
“We’re delighted with the squad that we have assembled as we move towards season kick-off in early August,” Tsatsimas said.
The Jets will begin their campaign against Adelaide United on August 6 at Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide.
