Aaron Mooy joins Manchester City but will likely be loaned to another European club

AARON Mooy had outgrown the A-League and needed to challenge himself. But what comes next is the interesting part and is very much in his own hands, writes Matt Windley.

Aaron Mooy could be loaned out by Manchester City. Picture: George Salpigtidis

WHEN Manchester City took over Melbourne Heart in 2014 the possibilities were endless.

One of the dreams was to see an Aussie star rise through the ranks to play for the English Premier League giant.

With Aaron Mooy signing for the two-time EPL champion on Thursday, we are as close to that ambition becoming a reality as ever.

But we’re not quite there yet, with Mooy all but certain to be loaned out to another European club for the 2016-17 season.

The departure of the Socceroos midfielder — who won City player of the year awards in both of his seasons with the club — was expected.

But what comes next for the 25-year-old is perhaps of greater importance as continuing to get regular game time is important for both his development as well as his chances keeping a spot in the Socceroos starting XI for crucial World Cup qualifiers ahead.

Why have Manchester City taken one of their sister club’s best players?

Simply, Mooy had to move somewhere.

He’d outgrown the A-League. For him to take the next step as a player he needs to challenge himself abroad.

By keeping him on its books, Manchester can essentially “fatten up the cow” in order to cash him in down the track.

Or, if he shoots the lights out in the coming years, there’s no reason why Mooy can’t set his sights on joining the likes of Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure playing on the Etihad in the world’s biggest domestic league.

Aaron Mooy went from strength to strength in two seasons with Melbourne City. Picture: Getty Images

Another possibility of the Manchester takeover was the club loaning players to its Australian arm.

So far it’s just resulted in two A-League players being plucked by the English side and being farmed back to Oz.

And while that loophole has closed somewhat thanks to a recent tightening of transfer regulations by Football Federation Australia, Thursday’s back and forth between the two clubs was as frenzied as ever.

Gone is Mooy on a three-year deal.

Coming is Luke Brattan and staying is Anthony Caceres.

Both midfielders belong officially to Manchester but both will play at Melbourne next season on one-year loan deals.

Brattan, 26, won three championships with Brisbane Roar, but has not played a senior game since May 2015.

The defensive midfielder signed with Manchester last October, went to Championship club Bolton on loan for two months but did not play a game and then spent the remainder of the season training at the EPL club.

Caceres, 23, was controversially pinched from Central Coast in January and then immediately signed a short-term loan deal with Melbourne, where he would play 11 games.

With Mooy gone it is expected Caceres will be a big part of coach John van’t Schip’s plans in 2016-17.