A-League expansion club to reassess marquee targets after Nasri rejection
Western United has turned their attention to two ageing superstars after the A-League expansion club’s audacious bid to lure Premier League winner Samir Nasri was trumped by a pair of mega offers.
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A-League expansion club Western United will turn their marquee attention elsewhere with French superstar Samir Nasri set to stay overseas.
The ex-Arsenal and Manchester City star has received at least two lucrative offers, in the region of $8 million, blowing United’s budget out of the water.
United were hoping to pitch Nasri an offer in the region of $4 million, with the aid of Football Federation Australia’s marquee fund.
Nasri, 31, has been a polarising figure throughout his illustrious career which included five goals in 41 games for France’s national team, and demonstrated a sound knowledge of the A-League in talks with Western United chiefs.
But the inflation of the world football market and relative stagnation of the Australian scene – in large part due to the salary cap – leaves A-League clubs trailing in the wake of cashed up overseas rivals.
Negotiations were akin to Sydney FC’s moves for ex-Liverpool and Atletico Madrid ace Fernando Torres last season, when talks advanced much further.
The Sky Blues and FFA thought they’d lured Torres, before Japanese club Segan Tosu – with the aid of the mega new DAZN broadcast deal – blew the Australian offer out of the water.
Alessandro Del Piero’s $3.5 million dollar deal in 2012 looks cut price in comparison to the 2019 going rates.
Ex-Germany attacker Lukas Podolski, Bayern Munich and France great Franck Ribery and former AC Milan attacker Alexandre Pato are among the players approached by Western United.
Nasri, 31, played for West Ham last season and would undoubtedly have been one of the highest profile marquee players to sign in the A-League, a list which includes Del Piero, Juninho, Dwight Yorke, Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill and Keisuke Honda.
United have three visa spots left up their sleeve, one of which they plan to use on a marquee, which still leaves them room for two high-calibre overseas signings, armed with an extra $400,000 in the kitty after they were handed a salary cap exemption for their inaugural season.
Former Greece international Panagiotis Kone has already filled one of the marquee slots, with ex Wellington Phoenix keeper, Pole Filip Kurto filling the other visa spot.
Western United kick off in October and will play their home games at Kardinia Park.
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