Top Socceroos Close to Deciding Future
As the deadline for finding a club approaches, two big name Socceroos are believed to be on the verge of confirming their playing future.
Socceroos captain Lucas Neill and super star winger Harry Kewell have both been without clubs since the end of the European soccer season, after both were told by Turkish club Galatasaray that their services would no longer be required.
Neill, who is in Cardiff with the Socceroos preparing for the upcoming friendly against Wales, was coy when asked where his future lies.
“I will know by the end of the week,” said Neill before telling reporters that he wouldn’t necessarily make the announcement as soon as he found out.
There are believed to be some big money offers on the table from the United Arab Emirates league, which is suddenly becoming an attractive option for top soccer players from around the world.
Neill said that the fact that he hadn’t undergone any pre-season training would not hamper his chances of picking up a new club.
“I did some extensive training at the Australian Institute of Sport facility near Milan for a couple of weeks,” Neill said.
“I locked myself in a boot camp and have been training to a programme for well over a month, so I am confident I have the fitness levels.”
Meanwhile Harry Kewell, who is not in Wales because of a lack of match fitness, is reported to have asked the Melbourne Victory for an extension on the signing deadline they set for him so he can consider his options.
It is believed that the Victory have tabled a deal to Kewell that would see him earn 70 per cent of any increased revenue earned by the Victory following his signing. That would be on top of the $250,000 that was pledged to him by the Football Federation of Australia to help promote the A-League.
While Neill and Kewell are on the brink of securing the immediate playing futures, one man who has is former Socceroo midfielder Mark Bresciano.
After 12 years in the Italian Serie A, Bresciano has made the switch from Lazio to United Arab Emirates Club Al Nasr on a transfer believed to be in the $5 million range.
“Bresciano is a good addition to the team with his European experience. The board has supported the coach’s ambition and with Bresciano we will challenge for the title and Asian Champions League progression,” said Al Nasr team manager Khalid Obaid.
Bresciano has earned 57 caps for the Socceroos, however he has not played since last year’s World Cup in South Africa.
The English Premier League starts this weekend and there has never been a better time to join Luxbet. Not only will you get the best odds on soccer matches from all over the globe, but if you sign up using the promotional code BONUS400, you will receive a 100 per cent deposit bonus worth up to $400.
