Besart Berisha getting his citizenship would transform Victory’s recruitment options

A-LEAGUE legend Besart Berisha hopes his longstanding ambition to become an Australian citizen could become reality early in the new year. MattWindley looks at just how important this would be for Victory as well.

Besart Berisha of the Melbourne Victory celebrates scoring a goal that was later disallowed during the Round 11 A-League match between Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Sunday, December 17, 2017. (AAP Image/Dan Peled) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

BESART Berisha is confident he is finally set to become an Australian citizen early in the new year.

And in what would be a huge boost for his club, Melbourne Victory would essentially then be able to sign an extra foreigner for its 2018-19 campaign.

The Kosovo international has been in Australia the requisite five years to become a citizen, having arrived in Brisbane to play for the Roar in 2011.

He had hoped to be naturalised on Australia Day this year, but that did not pan out.

That he will not take up one of its five prized visa spots next season would have made the decision much easier for Victory chiefs to re-sign the striker on a new one-year deal earlier this month.

And, although highly unlikely, if the A-League’s all-time leading striker were to become an Australian as early as next month, Victory — already with one visa spot up its sleeve — could theoretically pursue an extra foreigner in the back end of this season.

Besart Berisha could get his citizenship in January or February

Berisha will not be available to play for the Socceroos.

It is not yet clear if the 33-year-old will be a marquee player next season, as he has been during his four Victory campaigns thus far.

“I hope in January or February I will become and Aussie and that will be great,” Berisha said.

“I’m really looking forward to that. I’m not sure exactly when but I’m really looking forward to being an official Australian.

“This is the country that I start to play good football again and achieve great things.

“I’m very grateful for that and this is why I am still here in this country. I love this country, it’s been great to me.”

Speaking about his re-signing, Berisha confirmed there was interest elsewhere, with the J-League understood to be one potential option.

“Look, of course, if you play good football and you score goals as a striker you attract clubs,” he said.

“But for me, since Day 1, I’ve really enjoyed playing my football and for me it was always about trying to find a club, stay, create history, win trophies and be successful.

“And I’ve found this here in Melbourne and I’m very happy for that.”

Berisha also said he was happy to see Mark Milligan continue to take Victory’s penalties in the coming weeks, as he did in the final moments of last weekend’s dramatic 1-0 derby win over Melbourne City.

“It’s very normal when you miss a penalty two weeks ago,” Berisha said, referring to his Round 10 miss against Adelaide.

“You have to share sometimes. I have taken many penalties and I will take them again. I would love to step up again and take one.

“But at this time it is time for Millsy to take the penalties and I focus on the other goals, hopefully.

“Millsy is feeling good at the moment and he should keep going taking them.”

Berisha, who last week agreed a new one-year deal to stay at Melbourne Victory to the end of the 2018/19 season, said his citizenship could be signed off in “January or February”.

“I will become an Aussie and that will be great ... I’m not sure exactly when but I’m really looking forward to being an official Australian. This is the country where I start again to play good football and I achieve great things,” said Berisha on Wednesday.

Originally published as Besart Berisha getting his citizenship would transform Victory’s recruitment options