Adelaide sign Argentine Carrusca

3 August 2012 06:09

Adelaide United have signed Argentine left winger Marcelo Carrusca, with the 28-year-old to link up with the club upon completion of a medical.

Carrusca has penned a two-year contract at the Reds, becoming the third visa player in coach John Kosmina's squad.

He joins from Argentine Primera Division outfit San Martin de San Juan, having made 23 appearances - including 15 starts - and scored two goals in the 2011/12 campaign.

The former Argentina Under-20 international's career is perhaps more notable for a stint with Turkish Super Lig giants Galatasaray, for who he represented in the 2006/07 Champions League and UEFA Cup.

His career also features stops at Argentine clubs Estudiantes and Banfield as well as Mexican Primera Division outfit Cruz Azul, and Adelaide football director Michael Petrillo was confident Carrusca would be a good fit.

"All of our reports have indicated that Marcelo is a high-quality player and individual," Petrillo said.

"We are extremely pleased to have a player of this quality agree to terms with our club. He is a player who has played at some big clubs around the world and comes at a great time in his career.

"At 28 years of age he will also bring experience gained over many years in top flight football such as the European Champions League, UEFA Cup as well as Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana

"He ticks all the boxes that Kossie (Kosmina) has been looking for in the type of player he wants and we are expecting him to not only add some real quality to our play but he is also an exciting type of player that not only our fans but football fans in general will want to see in the A-League."

United are expecting Carrusca to arrive for his medical within days, and aim to have him available for the first leg of their AFC Champions League quarter-final tie against Bunyodkor on September 19.