However, the new Reds signing hadn’t backed out of his deal - he was stuck at Melbourne airport for three hours after his flight was delayed in Europe.

Agostino, 32, finally arrived in Adelaide at lunchtime and told local media his foot injury was progressing well after he broke it at training in March with his club TSV 1860 Munich.

“I’ve been getting a lot of physiotherapy, spending time on the exercise bike and doing a lot of aqua jogging but Adelaide United has been kept up to date with my progress and we’ll take it from there,” he said.

“My goal is to be 100% fit for the first game of the season,” added the 20 times capped Socceroo.

Agostino has enjoyed a 15-year career in Euro club football. Beginning with Young Boys Berne in 1992 and fellow Swiss club Yverden-Sport FC, he moved on to Bristol City in England under Joe Jordan before playing for the last decade with 1860 where he scored 46 times.

United’s first match of the Hyundai A-League season is away to Queensland Roar on August 25.