Port Adelaide forward Orazio Fantasia has officially addressed trade rumours regarding a potential return to Essendon.
The Age journalist Sam McClure reported that Fantasia was open to a return to the Bombers, following his departure from the Hangar for Port Adelaide at the end of the 2020 season.
Fantasia was featured on FiveAA radio waves on Friday, issuing a response to the recent rumblings.
"I actually thought it was a joke because I got a message from Sam (McClure) who was writing the article saying he'd spoken to my manager Michael - who's no longer my manager – and I'm going to write the story," he told FiveAA.
"I thought it was one of the boys taking the piss out of me. It wasn't and it's gone everywhere so that was a bit of a laugh.
"I know where I want to be but I'm also realistic to know I haven't played enough football at Port Adelaide for them to be dishing out a four-year contract, which is where I want to play footy.
"Hopefully, I can help in the back end of the year and the contract will take care of [itself]."
As if Fantasia's comments weren't categorical enough, the Power livewire issued a final statement to definitively put the rumours to bed.
"I want to be in Adelaide, that's the biggest thing… I still feel like I've got a lot of football left in me.
"I signed last year in August, so I'm pretty sure that shows my commitment to this football club."
Despite only having played 19 games for Port Adelaide across three seasons, the South Australian will look to make his mark during the latter stages of this year's campaign in hopes of securing a contract beyond 2023.