Crossword Genius

Spread tales myself about the person from Valletta (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

maltese

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'from valletta' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'spread tales myself about' is the wordplay.
'spread' indicates an anagram.
'myself' becomes 'me'.
'about' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'tales' anagrammed gives 'altes'.
'altes' placed inside 'me' is 'MALTESE'.

'the person' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for maltese that I've seen before include "Mediterranean native" , "Pigeon" , "From Valletta, perhaps" , "Description of cross" , "sort of cross" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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