Melbourne City sign Uruguayan striker
The 27-year-old is the club's seventh off-season recruit following the pre-season acquisitions of Ivan Franjic, Steve Kuzmanovski, Corey Gameiro, Harry Novillo, Michael Zullo, Wade Dekker and Aaron Hughes.
Nicknamed El Tuna - or 'The Prickly Pear' - Fornaroli began his career at Uruguayan club Nacional, starring in the club's youth ranks alongside Barcelona's Luis Suarez, while he also represented Uruguay at under-17 level in 2003.
The striker's breakout season came during his first senior campaign with Nacional in 2008, with Fornaroli scoring on 17 occasions in 37 appearances across the Uruguayan Primera Division and Copa Libertadores.
Following interest from Europe, Fornaroli completed spells for Serie A side Sampdoria and Greek Super League outfit Panathinaikos before returning to Uruguay to link up with most recent club Danubio FC.
A striker with speed, agility and technical skill, City boss John van't Schip believes Fornaroli fits the profile of the number 9 he desires for this season.
"Bruno is the type of player we have been looking for and we are excited to welcome him to Melbourne City FC," van't Schip said.
"We believe Bruno’s experience in South America and his technical ability as a number 9 will greatly complement our other attacking players.
“Bruno will join us immediately in training this week and will be available for our FFA Cup campaign as we prepare for the start of the A-League season.”
Fornaroli underwent his medical at the City Football Academy in Manchester, before training for a week with Manchester City FC’s Elite Development Squad, under Patrick Vieria.
The Club’s latest signing arrived in Melbourne on Monday, with Fornaroli meeting and training with his teammates at Melbourne’s City Football Academy.
“The Club has made me feel very welcome, the whole staff and the playing group have received me well and made me feel comfortable,” Fornaroli said.
“Fans can expect lots of sacrifice for the shirt, that’s the first thing I put in my head when I arrive at a club.”
Fornaroli will wear the jersey number 23 and fill Melbourne City FC’s fourth VISA squad position.
Player Details
Bruno Fornaroli
DOB: 7 September 1987 (age 27)
Place of birth: Salto, Uruguay
Position: Striker
Clubs: Nacional, Sampdoria (San Lorenzo, Recreativo Heulva, Nacional), Panathinaikos, Danubio (Figueirense)
DOB: 7 September 1987 (age 27)
Place of birth: Salto, Uruguay
Position: Striker
Clubs: Nacional, Sampdoria (San Lorenzo, Recreativo Heulva, Nacional), Panathinaikos, Danubio (Figueirense)
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Tony Popovic says Western Sydney Wanderers' Spanish revolution wasn't pre-planned
Western Sydney coach Tony Popovic says the new Spanish flavour at Wanderland is not by design, but rather a byproduct of the Eurozone's financial woes.
As part of an enormous squad overhaul in the off-season, Popovic has signed three players - Andreu, Dimas Delgado and Alberto Aguilar - with extensive experience in Spain's top two leagues while hiring another Spaniard, Andres Carrasco, as an assistant coach.
Fans are set to get an early glimpse of their potential for the club with all three Spanish players in line to face Brisbane Roar in Tuesday night's FFA Cup tie at Pepper Stadium in Penrith.
But Popovic denied suggestions he had taken a leaf out of A-League rivals Adelaide United's book by looking to the Iberian Peninsula for on-field inspiration.
"I wouldn't say it's planned," Popovic said. "We look all over the world all the time. Two years ago I went to Spain and tried to sign a couple of players.
"Maybe with the economic situation in Europe now we have a chance to sign them. Two years ago when I tried, it didn't work out."
The Wanderers have also signed Federico Piovaccari as their marquee player but Popovic said the Italian striker was still building his fitness base and would not play against the Roar.
Both sides are still very early in their pre-seasons and will be missing key players due to injury - Western Sydney's Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Jonathan Aspropotamitis are currently sidelined, while Brisbane will be without Luke DeVere, Henrique, Michael Theo and Steven Lustica.
Roar coach John Aloisi says his side's pre-season has been productive despite the ownership saga that threatens to see the club wound up by August 19, if a $60,000 debt with the Queensland Rugby Union is not settled.
"We all know it's not ideal to have the club up in the air a little bit," Aloisi said.
"It will come to a head, it has to.
"It's out of our hands, it's for the people upstairs. On the football side we can only make sure the environment's good for the players, and it is."
In Tuesday night's other FFA Cup matches, Central Coast Mariners host Wellington Phoenix, the new-look Newcastle Jets take on Perth Glory, and the Cairns-based Far North Queensland Heat travels south for a meeting with Victorian state-league side Oakleigh Cannons.
FFA CUP ROUND OF 32 - Match day 4
Western Sydney Wanderers v Brisbane Roar at Pepper Stadium
Central Coast Mariners v Wellington Phoenix at Central Coast Stadium
Newcastle Jets v Perth Glory at Magic Park
Oakleigh Cannons v Far North Queensland Heat at Jack Edwards Reserve
*Kick-off time for all games 7.30pm AEST
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