Waterpolo star’s exit from Neptunes falters amid club rift

A fractured relationship between a star water polo player and his team ended up in front of the sport’s governing body as 22-year-old Jake Muscat Melito unsuccessfully tried to leave Neptunes WPSC earlier this month.

During proceedings, Muscat Melito argued that because his team had asked him to leave the club in writing, and because he was excluded from the first team, the contract he had signed with Neptunes was void.

His legal argument was that his club’s actions amounted to a constructive dismissal.

That meant he could join Neptunes’ fierce rivals, San Ġiljan ASC, without a cent in transfer fees going to the club.

However, Neptunes said they were still entitled to sell the player for the fee they set and to the team of their choice because Muscat Melito was still under contract with his team for another two years.

Last Monday, the Aquatic Sports Association ruled that Muscat Melito’s contract remained valid. But because he was still a Neptunes player, he should be allowed to train with his team.

But, days later, ASA gave Neptunes the right to ostracise Muscat Melito from the pool following an “official report of further alleged misbehaviour by the player during a training session with Neptunes WPSC”.

During proceedings, club president Matthew Bonello testified that there had been several issues regarding Muscat Melito’s attitude and behaviour.

These included showing disrespect to teammates and several physical fights. Bonello said that Muscat Melito was in two fights last April, one at a St Julian’s  restaurant and the other in Paceville.

In a previous altercation, Muscat Melito’s injuries from a fight meant he could not participate in a match, Bonello testified.

Muscat Melito is considered one of Malta’s best water polo players. The full-timer plays for the national water polo team and in winter he plays abroad for a foreign team.

However, Neptunes management claim that his attitude has been an issue for some time.

But the water polo player’s lawyer, Carlos Bugeja, told Times of Malta those statements were an attempt at character assassination and had nothing to do with the issue at hand – whether Muscat Melito’s contract with Neptunes was void or not.

He said that Muscat Melito had never faced disciplinary proceedings before he was officially asked to find another team.

Bonello confirmed this in his testimony but said the player had been warned verbally on several occasions.

Muscat Melito’s legal representative said the Neptunes management had ostracised the 22-year-old and even asked the team’s goalkeeper – Matthew Castillo – not to invite Muscat Melito to his birthday party.

Asked about this during proceedings, Castillo confirmed that team manager Rainer Scerri advised him to keep Muscat Melito off the guest list.

He said that, following the letter stating that Muscat Melito should find another club, the 22-year-old did just that, with San Ġiljan ASC accepting to take him on their roster.

Sources close to Neptunes said that San Ġiljan wanted to either take on Muscat Melito without paying a transfer fee or paying €30,000 – well below the 22-year-old’s value.

Neptunes, San Ġiljan and Sliema ASC are considered to be Malta’s best water polo teams.

While Neptunes do not want to keep Muscat Melito on their team, they also don’t want their biggest rivals to have him either.

Neptunes secretary Giulio Sammut said that another team – Sirens ASC – had given an offer that is close to Muscat Melito’s estimated value.

“The only formal and bona fide offer for a permanent transfer received by the club was from Sirens ASC, with whom the club agreed in principle on the terms of the transfer.”

“Despite these efforts and despite initially indicating his agreement to join Sirens, the player ultimately rejected the transfer. His reversal appears to have been motivated not by legitimate sporting reasons but by spite and a desire to leave the club without honouring his contractual obligations.”

Sammut said Neptunes also offered to loan out Muscat Melito as a temporary arrangement.

“This proposal was intended to allow the player to continue playing and remain fit, while also serving as a means to de-escalate tensions and buy more time to reach a mutually acceptable, longer-term solution.

“Yet, once again, the player outright refused the arrangement, offering no reasonable justification, seemingly acting out of spite rather than in pursuit of any genuine sporting objective,” Sammut said.