Western United’s rising star, Noah Botic, has stated that he is not preoccupied with his future, even as his current contract is set to expire at the end of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
The 23-year-old forward has been in outstanding form this season, netting 11 goals in 21 league appearances and helping to elevate Western United to second place on the ladder.
His contract situation has been a recurring subject of conversation this season, as Botic has yet to make any commitments regarding his future with the club beyond the current campaign.
“It’s a topic my family and I have been discussing for the last few months,” Botic shared with Total A-Leagues.
“I’ve been in discussions with my agent as well as the coach, gathering insights and opinions from various people to determine the best direction for me.”
“At the moment, I’m not concentrating on that. My focus is on being at Western, playing as much as I can, as that will attract interest.”
“While the future is uncertain, my priority is to perform on the field with Western, in the hope of winning a trophy.”
After a spectacular season thus far in the Isuzu UTE A-League, the young striker is reported to have garnered interest from clubs across England, Scotland, and the Netherlands.
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Despite his impressive performances, Botic was excluded from the latest Socceroos squad for crucial matches against Indonesia and China, with head coach Tony Popovic opting for Perth Glory’s Adam Taggart and Portsmouth striker Kusini Yengi instead.
“Naturally, anyone would feel a bit of frustration in that moment, but ultimately, it’s Poppa’s choice, and I respect his decisions regarding team selection,” Botic commented about missing out on selection.
“The team he picked performed well, winning both matches, which just goes to show.”
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“He’s an astute coach who knows what he’s doing. There’s a reason behind every selection. I respect that.”
When asked about his recent goal celebration where he pretends to ‘ring’ a phone, the cheeky 23-year-old added a tongue-in-cheek reminder for the Socceroos coach.
“Honestly, if you want some goals, just give me a call.”
Extending his stint at Western United may hinge on the influence of Socceroos legend and current head coach John Aloisi.
“I’ve been with him since the very start of his tenure here,” Botic remarked regarding Aloisi’s impact on his development.
“It was a significant reason for my move to Western – I wanted to learn from him and benefit from his wealth of experience.”
“We have shooting sessions at least once or twice a week throughout the season.”
“Learning from him means picking up on the little details—things you think, ‘that’s how they do it overseas.’
“It’s a lot different compared to what we practice here. My time in Germany exposed me to numerous shooting sessions and various techniques, which I can now refine and implement.”
“This has immensely contributed to my development, particularly in those intricate areas around and outside the box. He has been a significant influence.”
Currently leading by a single goal over Western Sydney’s Nicolas Milanovic and Adelaide’s Archie Goodwin, Botic will be keen to maintain his position at the top of the Golden Boot standings this weekend when Western faces bottom-placed Perth Glory.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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