Mark Milligan set to move to Saudi giants Al-Ahli after huge offer to Melbourne Victory

JUST days after putting up the “not for sale” sign, Melbourne Victory star Mark Milligan is set to make a shock international move.

After saying star Mark Milligan was not for sale, Melbourne Victory has reportedly received an offer it can’t refuse. Picture Getty Images

JUST days after putting up the “not for sale” sign, Melbourne Victory star Mark Milligan is set to make a shock move to Saudi Arabia.

Despite coach Kevin Muscat being adamant his 2014-15 championship captain was integral to his plans for the remainder of the season — the Asian Champions League commences in less than three weeks — Victory’s board over the weekend received a transfer offer it could not refuse.

NOT FOR SALE: VICTORY KNOCK BACK INITIAL SAUDI OFFER

After saying star Mark Milligan was not for sale, Melbourne Victory has reportedly received an offer it can’t refuse. Picture Getty Images

The offer it rejected last week was said to be approximately $300,000 US dollars.

This offer was said to be about double that amount.

Melbourne Victory this evening confirmed the midfielder has ‘sought an opportunity in Saudi Arabia and will depart the club with immediate effect’.

“We obviously did everything we could to keep him, but Mark was adamant this was an opportunity he wanted to take up,” head coach Kevin Muscat said.

“It’s a very disappointing outcome, but these things happen in football so we must move forward and make sure we’re ready to tackle Newcastle on Saturday.”

After a long dreamt of move to England fell through in pre-season, Milligan signed a one-year marquee deal with Victory in July.

But there was as yet no offer on the table for the Socceroos vice-captain for next season.

And with Besart Berisha and James Troisi said to be locked in as the side’s marquee players for 2018-19, Milligan, 32, would have had to take a significant pay cut to remain in Victory colours.

Milligan has been one of Victory’s best players in 2017-18. Picture: AAP

It made, for the player as well, the offer from Saudi giants Al-Ahli all the more enticing.

Rumours abound shortly after Milligan signed that there was every chance he could leave mid-season if the right offer came along.

Such a suggestion was given further credence when Victory signed midfielder Terry Antonis late last month, as if he was cover in case this Milligan scenario unfolded.

But a prickly Muscat bristled at such as suggestion last week.

When asked if he knew when signing Milligan that clubs would come for him in January, he said: “what happened at the start of the season is not important”.