Sporting Lisbon's embattled striker Valeri Bojinov may return to Italian side Fiorentina, Italian media have hinted.

Fiorentina's director of football Pantaleo Corvino is a fan of the Bulgarian and is eager to snap him up once again, Calcioline reports. In 2005, Bojinov joined Fiorentina from Serie A team Lecce.

The Sporting Lisbon forward stirred a scandal last week by shoving a team mate aside to take a vital injury-time penalty – which he missed. He was subsequently expelled from Sporting's first team.

Bojinov is well acquainted with Italian football, having played for Juventus and Parma besides Fiorentina and Lecce.

Two Bulgarian clubs – Levski Sofia and champions Litex Lovech – have declared interests in signing the striker. However, a move back to Italy has been deemed more possible by the majority of media sources.

The Bulgarian international signed a five-year contract with Sporting after the two clubs agreed on a EUR 2.6 M bid for 80% of the player's economic rights. The fee could rise to EUR 3.5 M depending upon the club's performances.