What lies ahead for Melbourne Victory star Daniel Arzani? Regardless of his future path, the Socceroo is determined to avoid repeating past errors.
Arzani is currently enjoying one of the finest spells of his career as the 26-year-old aims to steer Victory towards consecutive Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Finals.
The Subway Socceroos winger has notched up three goals and provided six assists this season, and he has reclaimed his spot in the national team under the guidance of former Victory head coach Tony Popovic.
As his contract nears its end this campaign, Arzani remains focused on the Finals Series while striving to draw lessons from his past experiences abroad.
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His journey began when he signed with Manchester City in 2018 before being sent on loan to Scottish giants Celtic. Unfortunately, his debut there was marred by a devastating anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
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Following that setback, he found himself on a series of loans, struggling to regain his match fitness, confidence, and form with stints at FC Utrecht in the Netherlands, AGF Aarhus in Denmark, and SK Lommel in Belgium, another City Football Group affiliate, where he only managed limited appearances.
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Speaking about his future in a recent episode of Total A-Leagues, Arzani remarked, “I’m not quite sure what’s next.”
“I’m genuinely focused on the important match coming up this weekend and there’s a vital window with the national squad that I hope to be a part of. Those are my top priorities.”
“Reflecting on my time overseas, it was incredibly disappointing and felt quite like a lost opportunity. I believe the frequent five to six-month loan deals with City contributed to the challenges I faced. It’s tough to join a club and make an immediate impact when you’re constantly shifting teams.”
“You find yourself in and out, not really establishing your importance to the club.”
“I hope that if I do make a move overseas again, it will be a permanent one, as that could provide me with a better chance to establish myself.”
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After Arzani’s interview, retired Socceroo and former A-League standout Tommy Oar offered his insights on the Australian forward.
“In the last decade or two, there haven’t been many young Australian talents quite like him,” Oar commented.
“His excitement every time he gets the ball is palpable. If you assess his career trajectory and consider the criticism he has faced, it’s clear he’s somewhat a victim of his early success.”
“When he burst onto the scene, he was mesmerising to watch. At such a young age, he broke into the Socceroos squad and made it to a World Cup, setting expectations incredibly high. This meant that whenever he fell short, he faced immediate scrutiny.”
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“Such expectations can be harsh. Especially considering his performances over recent months—if someone unfamiliar with Daniel Arzani were to watch him play now, they would think, ‘Who is this extraordinary talent?’”
“His ability to take on defenders is truly impressive. I do sympathise with him regarding the criticism he receives, but I believe he has matured considerably as a player.”
“This season was pivotal, especially after his time at Macarthur didn’t unfold as he had hoped. It’s clear that he has reminded everyone of his exceptional ability, particularly during the latter half of the season.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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