This one slipped under the radar?
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1091690/Spurs-sign-Aussie-teen-star
[h=1]Spurs sign Aussie teen star[/h]
Dream deal ... Australian midfield player Giancarlo Gallifuoco has signed for Tottenham
Young Australian midfielder Giancarlo Gallifuoco has landed a dream contract with English Premier League giant Tottenham Hotspur.
Gallifuoco, 18, has signed a deal for two and a half years and will form part of Spurs' professionals (reserves) squad.
The talented player who was resigned to playing at Seymour Shaw Park in suburban Sydney this coming season now has historic White Hart Lane as his new home.
Gallifuoco was a member of Australia's under-16 team that reached the semi-finals of the Asian Championships in Uzbekistan in 2010 before he terminated his involvement with the Australian Institute of Sport to seek a professional career in Europe.
And after failing to land a deal with a number of Serie A and Serie B clubs in Italy, he has hit the jackpot with Spurs.
"I'm thrilled and I have not stopped pinching myself since Spurs offered me a contract," Gallifuoco said from London where he has started his new life as a professioanl footballer, rubbing shoulders with some of Spurs' top stars like Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe.
"I was once told that I was not good enough and here I am on the books of one of the world's greatest clubs training with some of my heroes.
"We are the reserves side so we have to be ready to step into the first team whenever we are needed."
Gallifuoco's move to London only came about after a chance trial in December.
His move to Lazio last August hit a few snags and attempts to sign for Atalanta and Torino did not work out either.
And when it looked like his European odyssey had come to an abrupt end and he was packing his bags to return home, a family acquaintance from NSW Premier League Sutherland Sharks came to the rescue.
Gallifuoco had actually agreed to sign for the Sharks before club coaching director and his junior coach John Klappas, who has contacts with Spurs, arranged a two-week trial at the premiership giant on his way home from Italy.
Gallifuoco left such a good impression that he was offered a contract that will keep him in London till the end of 2013-2014 although he learned of Spurs' offer only after he flew back to Sydney for Christmas.
The Sharks and Gallifuoco had an agreement whereby the club would release the player if an offer in Europe came up.
"It's a dream come true for me," he said.
"Spurs said they see me as a central defender or holding midfielder.
"I would like to thank my agent David Magrone, my junior coach John and above all my father Salvatore for all he's done for me and without whom I would not be where I am today."