Argentinian soccer superstar Gabriel Batistuta is expected to make a surprise trip to WA this weekend as he searches for the ideal place to settle in retirement and raise his children.
The one-time pin-up of world soccer, who was a national hero in his home country and is still adored by legions of fans, recently retired from the game because of injury and is believed to be interested in setting up his home in Perth.
The former Fiorentina and Roma star, who was one of the world's most feared strikers in his heyday in Italy's Serie A, is married to Irina and has four sons, Thiago, Lucas, Joaquin and Shamel.
He is expected to spend a few days assessing Perth before heading to the Eastern States and returning to Qatar, where he has remained since ending his playing days with Al Arabi.
Batistuta, whose astonishing goal-scoring knack earned him the nickname Batigol, started his career in Argentina with Newells Old Boys, River Plate and Boca Juniors before moving to Italy in 1991.
After scoring 168 goals in 269 league appearances for Fiorentina, he made a £22 million ($55 million) move to Roma and scored 20 goals in 28 matches as the team marched on to win the Italian title.
Batistuta retired from the international arena, in which he scored 56 goals in 78 matches, after a disappointing campaign at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea. He moved to Qatar in 2004 but a knee injury forced an end to his career in March.
Information by: “The West Australian”
