The Croatian manager, who has landed a lucrative gig in Saudi Arabia, was willing to cut short the 19 year-old playmaker’s two-year loan deal from Perth Glory after just a single season.
But Kalezic’s departure has led to the club, who are still without a coach, into deciding to keep the Australian youth international for one more year, with the option of completing a permanent signing at the end of the 2016-2017 season.
De Silva, who had Australia international striker Tomi Juric and fellow Perth Glory export Rostyn Griffiths for teammates last season, made just 11 appearances in his debut campaign – with 10 of those coming off the bench.
While there is no doubting De Silva's potential, Kalezic felt it might be better he was nurtured elsewhere, after the coach helped the newly promoted club fight off the threat of relegation.
Griffiths has already left the club and is a seeking a new contract elsewhere in Europe or in Asia, while Juric, for now, remains a Roda player, even though his contract is up and he is looking at the chance to forge a future in China.
Glory, who will receive a lump sum of just under $1 million should Roda opt to sign De Silva permanently, were initially seeking to sell him to AS Roma but the $1.8 million sale to the Italian giant fell through because Roma had exceeded their quota of foreign players.
That’s when Roda, who finished 14th in the 18-team Eredivisie, stepped in and De Silva will be hoping to do enough in the pre-season to make this a breakthrough year.
Though Glory’s loss is Roda’s gain, Glory CEO Peter Filopoulos is pleased De Silva, dubbed a future Australia international, will continue to get the chance to hone his talents in Europe.
“It’s terrific experience for him and he will only grow there,” Filopoulos said.
“They initially took him for two seasons and the chance is there for him to take him permanently should they wish. There is contract in place there.”
