Empoli have given Francesco Flachi another chance in football after his cocaine ban expires in January.
The former Sampdoria striker was handed a two-year suspension for testing positive for cocaine in February 2007 and sacked by his club.
He has been training with amateur side Pietrasanta Marina and will return to the sport professionally when his ban expires in January 2009.
This afternoon Serie B outfit Empoli announced they had signed Flachi on a one-year contract.
Although Flachi is 33 years old, he has no intention of ending his career with this suspension and aims to prove he is still the same player so loved in his eight years at Sampdoria.
Empoli gives him the opportunity to return to his Tuscan roots, as he started his career with hometown club Fiorentina’s youth system.
