‘He wants to be No.1’: Socceroos captain gambling on game time with Italian giants
By Vince Rugari
Maty Ryan is not moving to AS Roma to sit on the bench and believes he can become the Serie A club’s No.1 goalkeeper, Socceroos coach Graham Arnold says.
Ryan is set to be imminently unveiled by Roma after arriving in the Italian capital and agreeing terms on an initial one-year contract, having departed Dutch club AZ Alkmaar after a year and a half in the Eredivisie.
The 32-year-old has been widely expected to serve as the back-up to Mile Svilar, the Belgian-born Serbian international groomed to succeed their previous goalkeeper Rui Patricio, who has since left the club.
A bit-part role for Ryan at club level would be problematic for the Socceroos, who face a crucial 12 months ahead in World Cup qualifying and have no other goalkeepers playing regular football at a high level in Europe; Ryan’s chief understudy Joe Gauci is third in line at Aston Villa, Tom Glover is a reserve at Middlesbrough, and Paul Izzo is yet to begin his tenure at Randers FC in Denmark after exiting Melbourne Victory.
Before AZ, Ryan was a back-up at his previous three clubs, playing a combined total of just 12 league matches for Arsenal, Real Sociedad and FC Copenhagen.
Arnold said he spoke to Ryan before signing the contract and that Australia’s captain has no desire to play second fiddle to Svilar, 24, in Rome.
Maty Ryan is set to join AS Roma.Credit: AP
“It’s a 50-50. He’s not going there to be a second keeper at all. He’s going there to be number one,” he said.
“They’ve got a young Belgian keeper at this moment in time, and they wanted a top experienced goalkeeper. So Maty’s going there ... he’s got a strong belief in himself, and he’s expecting to go there and play.
“A club like Roma, they’re going to play 60-odd games this year with Champions League and obviously the Serie A and cup competitions, and then we’ve got in this calendar year, 10 international games. So that’s 70 games. If he gets 30, we’ll be very happy.”
Arnold was speaking at the announcement of Adelaide Oval as the venue for the Socceroos’ home qualifier against China in October. Football Australia recently confirmed that September’s clash with Bahrain will be held at Cbus Super Stadium, the first time the Socceroos have ever ventured to the Gold Coast.
Ryan’s switch to Roma is yet to be officially confirmed, but it probably won’t be the only big move made by a current Socceroo in this transfer window. Harry Souttar is also facing an uncertain future at newly promoted Premier League side Leicester City but is yet to signal whether he will stay and fight for a spot under new coach Steve Cooper, while Josh Nisbet, the reigning Johnny Warren Medallist, is set to sign for an overseas club after leaving the Central Coast Mariners.
Others have already settled into their new surrounds – like teenage sensation Nestory Irankunda, who has already begun training with Bayern Munich’s first team since arriving from Adelaide United.
Indeed, Arnold had the chance for his own change of scenery over the off-season break.
He revealed he had been put forward as an option to South Korea to become their national team coach by none other than Guus Hiddink, his long-time mentor.
According to reports, Arnold was the Korean association’s top target to succeed Jurgen Klinsmann – who was sacked after the Asian Cup earlier this year – based partly upon Hiddink’s personal recommendation.
Before steering the Socceroos to their first World Cup appearance in 32 years in 2006, Hiddink was South Korea’s manager during their home World Cup four years earlier.
“I had contact with Guus,” Arnold said.
“[But] I’m Australian. I love the green and gold. I coach Australia. The worst thing would have been if I’d gone, and then we got Australia in the draw. I don’t think I could have ever done that.
“I’m on a journey that I’m loving, and I’ve got a true belief in these boys. Everyone talks about how well we did last World Cup, making the round of 16. Well, I think this time, we can do better in America [at the 2026 World Cup]. That’s the goal.”
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