Champions Hamrun Spartans concluded the signing of former Italy national team goalkeeper Federico Marchetti.

The forty-year old is set to replace Henry Bonello in the early part of the season due to the latter’s injury sustained in the last game for Malta against Ukraine.

A product of Torino, Marchetti had spells on loan with Pro Vercelli, Crotone and Treviso. He was bought by AlbinoLeffe and joined Biellese in a co-ownership deal although he was then bought back by AlbinoLeffe. In 2008, he moved to Cagliari where he spent three years. Marchetti joined Lazio in 2011, where he soon established himself as one of the club’s key players. After seven years with Lazio, he moved to Genoa where he spent four years. Last January, Marchetti joined Spezia in the Serie A on a six-month deal.

The Spartans, who had appointed Luciano Zauri as their new coach, had earlier signed Yuliyan Nenov, Karlo Bilic, Nemanja Krstic, Seth Paintsil, Elionay Freitas, Uros Djuranovic together with veteran defender Joseph Zerafa.