Sliema goalkeeper Al Tumi receives offer from Moldovan giants Sheriff Tiraspol

Sliema Wanderers goalkeeper Rashed Al Tumi could be set to continue his career in Moldova after he received an offer from Sheriff Tiraspol.

The Malta international goalkeeper played a leading role with the Wanderers this season as he helped the side to not only secure a place in European football with third place in the Premier League but also played a decisive role in Sliema’s FA Trophy triumph against Floriana earlier this month.

In fact, the towering goalkeeper saved two penalties in the shoot-out that helped Sliema overcome Floriana in the final and lift the trophy for the 22nd time in the club’s history.

This season, Al Tumi made 24 appearances with Sliema Wanderers, managing 15 clean sheets and his performances have attracted the interest of Sheriff Tiraspol, a top club in Moldova.

Sources close to the player told the Times of Malta that the Moldovan side have made an offer to the player. It is understood negotiations are still at a primary stage and the player is set to start negotiations in the coming hours.

Al Tumi has made no secret of his ambition to continue his career away from our shores.

Since being at a young age, Al Tumi took the bold move of playing in Italy when he moved to the Palermo U-19 side before heading to Casarano, Arzachena, and Nocerina before heading back to Malta in January 2022 when he joined Sliema Wanderers.

Should his transfer to Sheriff Tiraspol materialise Al Tumi will be joining a major side in Moldova who in the recent past has played at the highest level of European football.

Sheriff have made great strides in European football and represented their country in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.

In season 2021-22 they became the first Moldovan side to play in the group stages of the Champions League when they knocked out Dinamo Zagreb in the Play-off Round and went on to face Inter, Real Madrid and Shaktar Donetsk in Europe’s elite club competition.