Socceroos sensation Daniel Arzani poised to break Australian domestic transfer record
HE was already the most talked-about member in Australian football. But Daniel Arzani’s late cameo — and his first Socceroos goal — ensured there will be plenty of interest and cash offered for the emerging star.
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TEEN Socceroos sensation Daniel Arzani is on track to become Australia’s first $2 million player and break the domestic transfer record.
Arzani, 19, underscored his mass potential with a stunning late cameo in the 2-1 win over Hungary that included a goal, a second assist and some clever touches in between.
Excluding Aaron Mooy’s $1.4 million Melbourne City to Manchester City move in 2016, Daniel De Silva’s $1.3 million sale from Perth Glory to Roma in 2013 remains the A-League transfer record, while Leicester City’s $1.7 million capture of Sydney United’s Zeljko Kalac in 1997 is the overall record for a player leaving these shores.
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The Melbourne City winger is already rated a $2m prospect on the global market, but should he replicate his Budapest performance in Russia his value could rise to $3m-plus.
City Football Group are eager to keep him inside the group in a Mooy-style deal, but with a year left on his Melbourne City contract offers are likely to come in for him from rival European clubs.
Arzani, who’ll be the youngest player at the 2018 World Cup, confirmed his Russia role and a dream World Cup debut against France is now a real possibility. But he wasn’t getting carried away.
“Really excited, the same outlook on things. It’s important not to put too much pressure on yourself and just try to enjoy things and that’s what I’m going to try and do,’’ Arzani said.
“I am happy to help the team in anyway I can. Going on to the field the advice from the (coach) was to just bring some energy on do my thing and that’s what I did.”
Starting from a less familiar left wing role enabled Arzani to cut inside and catch the keeper off guard by unleashing and early strike to put Australia ahead before a defence-splitting pass released Jackson Irvine for the winner.
“Obviously really happy. Ecstatic to have got my first national goal and even more so happy for the team, two wins on the trot heading into the World Cup which is really important,’’ he said.
“Really happy, a little bit shocked that’s why I didn’t celebrate so much. A bit of luck on my side for the goal I think. It’s such a surreal feeling, you know. Even to play for my country but to get on and score within seconds is really amazing.
“My mum and my dad were in the crowd. I ran to the corner flag for some reason, I don’t know I was a little bit confused.”
Arzani’s fitness was a major talking point in 2018, and he paid tribute to City coach Warren Joyce and the staff for their input.
“I hadn’t played A-League before. It was just a matter of getting games under my belt,’’ Arzani said.
“When you first start playing — you’re playing NPL (state league) and NYL (National Youth League) and you’re thrown into the A-League, I was cramping up at 60, 70 minutes first few games.
“The staff there have helped me come a long way and improve physically, mentally and all aspects of my game.”
Originally published as Socceroos sensation Daniel Arzani poised to break Australian domestic transfer record