Victory set to unveil Valeri

Melbourne Victory are reportedly set to confirm the signing of Carl Valeri as they continue to rebuild ahead of the 2014-15 A-League season.

Melbourne Victory are reportedly set to confirm the signing of Carl Valeri as they continue to rebuild ahead of the 2014-15 A-League season.

Kevin Muscat’s side will be Valeri’s first professional Australian club after the 29-year-old spent his entire senior career to date in Italy.

The 50-cap Socceroo will return home following a six-month stay at Ternana, the Serie B team he joined from Sassuolo in January.

Valeri joins international marquee Besart Berisha as another exciting signing for Victory, who have also secured the services of Brazilian playmaker Guilherme Finkler for next season.

“I’m very excited. I couldn’t wait for (it) to happen, I flew back straight away as soon as the season finished in Italy to get everything done,” Valeri told the Herald Sun.

“I know that they’re a successful club, that they aim to be the most successful in Australia.

“It was important for me, in my decision to come over to Australia, that I’ve always been a part of, maybe not the biggest teams, but teams with big objectives and that’s what I like about Melbourne (Victory) — they’re the best club in Australia so it’s the place to be.

“I want to be successful here.”

Valeri, who reportedly passed a medical on Monday, spent five years at Grosseto before moving to Sassuolo, having started his Italian adventure in Internazionale’s youth team.

A mainstay for Australia at the 2010 World Cup, Valeri has spent much of the last two years on the treatment table due to a serious ankle ligament injury.