Exiled Diego bombed out for last time

DIEGO Fabbrini has left Blues.The Italian attacking midfielder has signed for Romanian top-tier side, FC Botosani.

Fabbrini leaves Birmingham on a free transfer after having his contract terminated by mutual consent with reports in Romania suggesting he has joined Botosani for the season.

Botosani, based in the small city of the same name, finished eighth in Liga I last season.

Fabbrini had been training on his own at Wast Hills after it was made clear he was not part of manager Garry Monk’s first-team plans.

Fabbrini returned to Blues in the summer following a seasonlong loan with Spanish minnows Real Oviedo.

The 28-year-old was quickly informed he wouldn’t figure in Monk’s thinking and was made available for transfer.

He was initially allowed to train with Blues’ under-23s in order to maintain his fitness.

But it’s understood Fabbrini was then asked to train alone while the club looked to get him off the books. Monk accepted was some beneath the standards set.

“We were below the levels we have shown in previous games,” he said. “We are going to have to take certain days like Saturday. Not that we accept it.

“We have standards and hold ourselves accountable. We can’t afford to be at anything but our maximum.

“But the league dictates it is very hard to be at your maximum all the time. So when you are not, it’s important to pick up points and, if you can, keep clean sheets – it all counts.

“Over the six games we have done well. We are doing so much right.” way