Chris Oretan's career since he left Malta in search of pastures new before the advent of season 2003-2004 has taken him on a rollercoaster ride.
After problem-dogged spells in Croatia and Greece, the stocky Nigerian is hoping his move to Valletta, the club with whom he won everything there is to win in Maltese football, will signal a return to normality.
"No matter where I go, Malta will always remain my home," Oretan told The Times yesterday.
"I have made a lot of friends and established a good rapport with most of the people I have met during my long stay in Malta."
NK Slaven Belupo, the Croatian team who knocked out Hibs from the Intertoto Cup this season, were Oretan's first destination after he left Valletta in 2003 but a dispute with his foreign manager over the size of his fee from the contract, scuppered the Nigerian's chances of making his mark there.
"My first club after I departed Malta was Slaven Belupo but my manager wanted to make a lot of money out of the deal and the situation suddenly turned sour," Oretan said.
"After that, I had the opportunity to go to Greece and eventually joined Doxa Drama, one of the oldest clubs in the country. All started well there but as the club was on the verge on bankruptcy, I found myself in a situation similar to that faced by Orosco Anonam (now with Sliema) when he was in Hungary. To cut a long story short, I have had my fair share of ups and downs during my time away from Malta.
"In fact, I'm still waiting a decision from FIFA regarding my claim for compensation from Doxa Drama. If I wanted, I could have opted to take a six-month break from football and play for an amateur team in Germany but the temptation to return to Malta got the better of me."
Although Valletta were always seen as favourites to land his signature Oretan admitted that he also had talks with other Maltese clubs.
"I spoke to other teams here but Valletta were always my no.1 choice for the reason that I know virtually everybody there and I feel more at home playing for them," Oretan said.
Valletta's position at the summit of the Premier League table ought to have made Oretan's choice a straightforward one but the Nigerian claims to have been unaware of the Citizens' lofty standing.
"Even if Valletta were bottom of the league, I would still have played for them," Oretan pointed out.
"To be honest, I didn't even know they were doing so well when I made my mind up to return. The truth is I have a strong bond with Valletta. I cannot forget the fervour of their fans and all the nice memories from the successful years I enjoyed with them."
Oretan, who was due to undergo a medical yesterday and should make his first appearance for the Citizens in a friendly against visiting Dutch side Willem Tilburg today at the Hibs Ground (kick-off 6.30 p.m.), does not envisage problems to rediscover his old form now that he has come back.
"I know Maltese football very well and I don't think I will have problems adapting myself to the standard of the league here," Oretan said.
"The style of football may differ from one country to another but it's always the same game.
"With regards to my fitness, I have never had any problems with that... match practice is all I need to get back into the flow of things," the 24-year-old Oretan said.