The 34-year-old former Italian international was allegedly headed Down Under on a one-year deal but opted for his hometown club in the Lega Pro Prima division.

Lecce’s official website reported last night “great satisfaction” in reaching an agreement with the striker on a free transfer from Palermo.

It stated: “(He) has chosen, among several options, to wear the yellow jersey, for whom he had always shown great affection and love. The contract will be formalized on Wednesday.”

Earlier club president, Antonio Tesoro, told tuttolegapro.com the Salentini were confident of snaring their man despite everyone claiming a deal was struck with the Australians.

Miccoli has been embroiled in unsavoury headlines since extortion allegations emerged in the Italian press.

According to the office of public prosecution in Palermo, the player commissioned a figure within the Sicilian mafia to recover money owed to him by a nightclub.

Last month, Miccoli made an emotional apology after he was caught on a wiretap insulting murdered anti-mafia judge Giovanni Falcone.

"I'm a footballer, not a mafioso," Miccoli told a news conference at the time. "I'm against all the beliefs of the mafia.”

Victory confirmed they remain determined and positive of securing a high profile marquee for the upcoming 2013/14 season despite recent setbacks.

The club was in the frame for former Greek international Giorgos Karagounis, until the 36-year-old midfielder agreed to a new one-year deal at English side Fulham.

Victory coach Ange Postecoglou was unfazed by the latest development, despite having eleased his former international marquee Marcos Flores to join Central Coast Mariners.

“I’m speaking to a number of players and with all these things you speak to them and find out if there’s an interest,” he told 2MM Soccer Stoppage Time.

“Just because there’s an interest there and an interest with us doesn’t mean deals get done, there’s a whole range of things you need to go through.

“And part of me is just being satisfied that people are coming here for the right reasons and understand what our football club is about and what the football in this country is about.

“And unless I’m totally convinced about that we don’t take it to the next level. We’re talking to a number of players and like I said for me it’s about getting the right person.”