KUALA LUMPUR — Kuala Lumpur City defender Giancarlo Gallifuoco is on the brink of becoming eligible for Harimau Malaya, with his naturalisation process now in its final stages.
The development was confirmed by Kuala Lumpur Football Association (KLFA) president Syed Yazid Syed Omar, who revealed that the 30-year-old centre-back is awaiting final approval of his documentation before officially obtaining Malaysian citizenship.
“He is close to becoming a Malaysian citizen. For now, that’s all I can say as it has not been fully approved yet,” he briefly told Scoop when contacted.
Should the process be completed in time, Gallifuoco’s inclusion could provide a timely boost to the national team, which is currently seeking to shore up its defensive frailties following a 3-1 defeat to Vietnam in their final Group F match of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers in Hanoi on March 31.
Gallifuoco brings with him a valuable pedigree, having come through the youth system at Tottenham Hotspur, a background that underlines the potential impact he could have on Malaysia’s backline.
He is not the only player in line for naturalisation.
Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) duo Bergson da Silva and Manuel Hidalgo are also among those being considered, while Selangor FC midfielder Alex Agyarkwa, a Ghanaian who has been playing in the Malaysian League since 2021, is understood to meet the necessary criteria as well.
National head coach Peter Cklamovski had previously acknowledged that several of these players, including Gallifuoco and Bergson, missed out on earlier call-ups due to documentation issues.
“I’m not entirely sure how far along their registration process is, but they were unable to be registered in time.
“They are very eager to represent the country and could be called up for the next training camp,” Cklamovski was reported saying.
With these developments, Harimau Malaya could soon unveil a refreshed and strengthened squad ahead of upcoming international fixtures, as they gear up for tougher challenges on the Asian stage, as well as the AFF Cup and FIFA Asean Cup competitions scheduled for July and September this year. – April 7, 2026