'My first wish' - former Sheffield Wednesday ace Fernando Forestieri targeting England return
Former Sheffield Wednesday attacker Fernando Forestieri is currently a free agent.
Former Sheffield Wednesday forward Fernando Forestieri has revealed he wants to seal a return to English football, admitting the time is right to “come back”.
The attacker is currently a free agent and is training with the PFA as part of their pre-season programme for players without a club. Fellow former Wednesday players, such as Marvin Johnson, Will Keane and Elias Kachunga, have also been training with the PFA this summer.
This year, the camp has been extended from ten to 12 weeks, meaning the PFA programme offers a little bit more time for free agents to impress amid their ambitions of earning a contract ahead of the coming season.
Forestieri, who scored 40 goals in 134 appearances for Wednesday, has been a free agent since leaving AEL Limassol at the end of last season. He joined the Cypriot club in July last year and scored two goals in 26 appearances.
Having not played in England since he left the Owls six years ago, the former Watford man is now targeting a return to these shores, admitting it is his “first wish” to find a club in England.
"This is my first time being a free agent,” Forestieri told Sky Sports. “I'm 36 and I understand the situation, but the more important thing is that I feel so good to keep playing.
"It was different. I had very good experiences, but you realise how much you miss English football. Now it's time to come back.
"We live in London and my wife is due to give birth in August. My first wish is to find something in England.
"I started my coaching badges, so maybe this will be easier for me if I'm playing here. That is my focus, but I'm feeling good to play for another two years."
Following his exit from Hillsborough in June 2020, Forestieri, who spent five seasons in S6, joined Udinese. He spent just under a year and a half in Italy before moving to Malaysia in January 2022 and signing for Johor Darul Ta'zim.
Forestieri flourished in Johor Darul Ta'zim colours, scoring 50 goals and registering 25 assists in just 72 appearances. He also won ten major honours.
Reflecting on his time in Malaysia, Forestieri continued: "My agent played there and I saw the project to play in the Asian Champions League, which is a very hard competition. I went to JDT, which is such a good club with a lot of ambition.
"It's not because I was too good, it's because I was at the best club in the country. It was like Manchester City here. You have your talent, you train well, you eat well and you go with the right mentality.
“Some players go with the wrong mentality and think it's easy, but it is not easy. You have to push yourself."