Fox Sports’ commentator Michael Zappone reported during the Adelaide United and Perth Glory 2-1 win at home on Saturday the Reds are on the verge of unveiling a European-based player.

ADELAIDE United chairman Greg Griffin has revealed meetings with officials from Italian Serie A giant Napoli in a bid to lure them to SA later this year have been fruitful.

But he wouldn’t be drawn on whether a deal had been secured for a friendly.

Griffin also met with Benevento officials for a possible clash against Adelaide United in July or August.

He is expected to be a guest of Benevento at the Campania derby between Napoli and the Stregoni at the Stadio Ciro Vigorito on Monday morning SA time,

“We are continuing talks,’’ Griffin said from Benevento.

Benevento goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli scores against AC Milan

With Griffin eager to secure one of the two Italian clubs talk is that Adelaide United is about to land a foreign striker this week after Reds coach Marco Kurz on Friday said he may have found a player to suit what he needs right now.

The rumour mill is pointing towards an off contract forward agreeing to terms but Reds general manager of football Ante Kovacevic was not available to confirm or deny what was happening behind the scenes on Sunday.

Fox Sports’ football commentator Michael Zappone reported during Adelaide’s 2-1 win over Perth Glory at home on Saturday the Reds are on the verge of unveiling a European-based player.

The new signing reportedly played until December before he was released by his club during the FIFA transfer window at the end of last month.

“I was told he is not a German or a Spaniard,’’ Zappone said on Sunday.

“I understand he has agreed to terms, he is a free agent.”

The theory is the new player has worked for Kurz during his coaching career in Germany as Adelaide looks set to add another local signing to its playing stocks. Tom Strain, 22, older brother of United revelation, Ryan Strain, has been mentioned as a candidate.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/football/a-league/teams/adelaide/fox-sports-commentator-michael-zappone-reported-during-the-adelaide-united-and-perth-glory-21-win-at-home-on-saturday-the-reds-are-on-the-verge-of-unveiling-a-europeanbased-player/news-story/b7dca937b5130884acd03de3efedbdd3

Benevento.Major LOL!

When does this guy start running the whole league again?

Benevento> Allstars

yeah, would really pack 'em in

Owner of club organizes friendly with touring Italian team. What a wanker.

in fairness, they have improved from their first dozen or so games this season

Benevento Phwor!

(of all the teams in all the leagues)

Would blow in my shorts if we get Napoli to Adelaide.

Yes, Benevento

Here we have an example of a "reverse euro snob" - refuses to watch a european team in australia

No Juve and Liverpool are fine. They are marquee fixtures.

queue the Adverttiser with their chief AFL and eurosnob scemo Rucci sucking up to the Italian players and give them a sherrin

Followed by a cringeworthy Kochie interview on Sunrise

nah, I might watch them, along with the other 2 guys and a dog

In Greg we Trust!

Another article stated Napoli would play at adelaide oval and benavento at hindmarsh.

Sounds like a pretty good plan to me and not sure why our club organising friendlies against teams from cities who make up a huge % of Italian migrants here is a bad thing?

Yay Liverpool

I think you'd be surprised how many people (or their parents etc) from Benavento live in Adelaide.

both games need to be at hindmarsh

Tbh, I'd rather less focus on 'high profile' fixtures all the time - they just distract clubs. Victory had their worst season ever after the Liverpool friendly. Enticing the European clubs out here for the training camps should be the way to go, with pre-season fixtures against A-League clubs as appropriate.

Friendlies at AO... When will we learn? (Unless it's a guaranteed sell out like Liverpool) 

But where is the economic dollars and marketing dollaz.

Where are the profit margins

The an lick can't do football it's all about profits.

To be fair I could be misremembering but pretty sure that's what was said.

I dislike AO as much as the next person for soccer but would like to think in Adelaide we would easily have more people wanting to go than Hindmarsh can hold and they'd get hammered if some hardcore 3rd generation napoletaans can't get a ticket.

It's just a friendly after all. It's league games/finals I can't stand there.

better have people miss out ... if the game doesnt get 40k at AO , you can bet the AFL media idiots in adelaide will hammer our code again...

would be cool to see Sagna or Napoli play.

Whatever crowd it is it's more than what the Cows got against the visiting Italian AFL team

Dont worry ,the local AFL journos will give them a sherrin , and the look on their faces will be WTF ?

Bit like the visiting chinese team which played adelaide in the ACL ... they had no idea what port power or AFL were.