Bobo could make shock Sydney FC return

The prospects of Bobo returning to Sydney FC have risen sharply after he filed an application to have his Turkish contract annulled.

Brazilian striker Bobo’s return to Turkey has turned sour

The prospects of former Sydney FC goalscorer Bobo returning to Australia have risen sharply after the former Golden Boot winner filed an application with FIFA to have his contract in Turkey annulled.

The Brazilian left Sydney last July and signed a two-year deal with Alanyaspor, but has filed a complaint with FIFA alleging that he has not been paid since late last year.

Bobo has not played since November and he is now waiting for FIFA’s player status committee to rule on his case, which could include declaring him a free agent.

FIFA could simply insist Alanyaspor pay him the wages he is owed and leave him a contracted player with the Turkish side, but it’s believed Bobo has argued that his relationship with the club has broken down irretrievably.

There is an outside chance that FIFA could even rule him eligible to join another club outside the transfer window, on the basis that the non-payment of his salary effectively made him a free agent during the window — which in Australia closed several weeks ago.

The striker can’t move clubs until his status is determined, and there is as yet no indication whether FIFA will rule in days, weeks or even months.

Nonetheless it’s understood the 34-year-old remains keen on a return to Australia, less than a year after breaking the season scoring record and winning the A-League Golden Boot with 27 goals.

His family were well settled in Sydney before Alanyaspor offered him a lucrative two-year deal to return to Turkey, where he previously played for Besiktas and Kayserispor.

In December both Sydney FC and Adelaide looked at signing him, but the limited amount both had in the salary cap — plus Alanyaspor’s intransigence — killed off any prospect of a deal then.

Sydney have maintained discreet communications with one of their most highly regarded former players, but would have to weigh up Bobo’s age — he turns 35 next January — in considering whether to re-sign him next season.

The Sky Blues are likely to have both marquee spots free next year, with the final year of Milos Ninkovic’s contract bringing him inside the salary cap, and Dutchman Siem de Jong almost certain to return to PSV Eindhoven when his loan from the Dutch giants expires at the end of the season.

The bulk of Sydney’s senior players are under contract next season, with both Josh Brillante and Paolo Retre expected to sign new deals, but both Anthony Cacares and Reza Reza Ghoochannejhad are only loan signings until the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Western Sydney have confirmed midfielder Jordan O’Doherty is out until at least next season with an ACL injury suffered on Sunday against Perth.

“This will spur me on to get back stronger than I’ve ever been before,” said O’Doherty. “I’m absolutely gutted that I’m going to miss so much football but the road to recovery and hard work starts now.

Sydney FC have included marquee de Jong in their Asian Champions League squad despite missing the past five A-League matches with a knee injury.

As expected, Ninkovic and Adam Le Fondre joined de Jong as the three eligible foreigners in a 29-man squad.

Iranian mid-season signing Reza Ghoochannejhad was also a notable inclusion, making full use of the three-plus-one ruling on international players.

Sydney FC begin their campaign against Korean club Ulsan Hyundai at Jubilee Stadium next Wednesday night in the first of six group matches.