Troisi juggling offers from Middle East clubs

Australia attacker James Troisi is weighing offers from Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad and unnamed teams from Dubai, Qatar and Europe as he prepares to sever ties with Juventus.

Troisi

Socceroo attacker James Troisi looks set to leave Juventus amid interest from the Middle East (AFP) Source: AFP

After successful loan spells with Melbourne Victory and Belgium outfit Zulte Waregem last season, Troisi looks set to confirm his departure from the Italian champion, for whom he has never played a game.

Troisi, who scored Australia's winner in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup Final has attracted intense A-League interest, but it appears more likely he will move offshore.

The Middle East, which is home to fellow Aussies Mark Milligan (Baniyas), Mark Bresciano (Al Gharafa) and Brett Homan (Emirates Club), appears the likely destination.

The transfer window for the leagues across the Gulf closes on 30 September, so Troisi has time to juggle his options.

A source close to the 27 year-old said that while Troisi would expect to earn well in excess of $1 million per season in the Middle East, he feels the quality of football and the lifestyle at his next club is as important, if not more so, than simply the remuneration.

Al Ittihad, AFC Champions League winner in 2004 and 2005 and fourth in the FIFA Club World Cup in 2005, has made three recent attempts to tempt Troisi to Jeddah.

Its unofficial English-language Twitter account even trumpeted his capture on a two-year deal last week, prematurely as it turned out.
Troisi, who has a season to run in his Juve contract, was left out of Ange Postecoglou's Socceroos squad for Thursday’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Bangladesh in Perth, and the duel in Tajikistan five days later, in a response to his current club situation.

But Postecoglou made it clear he considers him a pivotal player on the road to Russia to 2018, and is keen for Troisi to settle his club future before returning to the fold.

Postecoglou said after naming his squad 12 days ago: “James Troisi has done very well for us and is still very much an important part.

“But, he didn’t really play much in the back half of last year either. He got an injury pretty much after the Asian Cup and he really hadn’t had a lot of football and hasn’t been training with the team for quite a while now.

“We felt even in Krygyzstan he looked a little bit underdone because of his injuries.

“The latest advice we’re looking at is: what condition they’re in, and give the guys the best opportunity in what’s going to be a tough 10 days, with a bit of travel involved.

“At this stage I thought it was best just to leave James out.”


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3 min read
Published 31 August 2015 10:59am
Updated 31 August 2015 12:11pm
By David Lewis
Source: SBS

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