Melbourne Victory could soon be on the verge of freeing up a visa spot in its squad with The Herald Sun reporting that Besart Berisha is poised to be granted Australian citizenship on Australia Day.
Berisha, 31, has become eligible to apply for citizenship after living in the country for five years.
“I am now five years here and I really enjoy every moment,” Berisha said in the Herald Sun earlier this year.
“I would love to be an Aussie, I enjoy myself here and this is the most important.
“If I’m able to get [citizenship] I will take it. I think being Australian is good.”
Hear from hat-trick hero @BesartBerisha7 after last night's 6-1 win over @WgtnPhoenixFC #MVCvWEL #MVFC pic.twitter.com/gowboxgRMG
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) November 1, 2016
The former Albanian international naturalisation would reduce the Big V’s foreign contingent to four, with Maxi Beister, Alan Baro, Marco Rojas and Fahid Ben Khalfallah occupying the other spots.
Berisha will be looking for goals when Victory take on Western Sydney Wanderers at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
More at the Herald Sun.