The brother and agent of Marcello Trotta has claimed that the Fulham forward wants to return to Italy in January.

The 22-year-old was sent on loan to Barnsley earlier this month after struggling to nail down a first-team place with the Cottagers this season.

However, Giuseppe Trotta claims that his brother is using his spell at Oakwell as a stepping stone toward a return to his homeland.

"The plan is to come back to Italy," he told Tuttomercatoweb. "After many years in England, as an Italian, Marcello would like to measure himself up against his home league.

"We also have an agreement with Fulham that, if an offer comes in from Italy, Marcello can return. Unfortunately Fulham never gave my brother the opportunity to express himself. Over the summer Wigan strongly wanted him, but the negotiations didn't go through.

"As soon as the season had started, [former Fulham manager] Felix Magath put him out of the squad so we decided to accept a six-month loan to Barnsley. That way he could play and prepare himself for a January move."

Trotta, who impressed on a season-long loan with Brentford last season and helped them earn promotion into the Championship, is out of contract with Fulham next summer.