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Gold Coast United club chairman Clive Palmer (right) and head coach Miron Bleiberg speak at a press conference at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. Palmer and Bleiberg confirmed marquee signing Socceroos star Jason Culina for their debut A-League season. AAP Image/Laine Clark
It means business, does A-League newboy Gold Coast United. The fledgling club has been full of bluster and swagger since the club was awarded its licence back in June last year.
Outspoken owner Clive Palmer has talked up his side’s intention of taking out the title in its debut season, and the mining billionaire is at least putting his money where his mouth is.
Not content to sign key Socceroo Jason Culina, United has now been linked with a big-money move for famed Swedish striker Henrik Larsson.
The former Barcelona, Manchester United and Celtic goalscorer is now 37, but his pedigree is undoubted and he is still good enough to play for his country.
Larsson is reportedly already in talks with United over a nine-match guest stint at the club, at a reported $100,000 a match.
With guest roles outside the salary cap, clubs can offer as much as they want. And with tycoon Palmer at the helm, United seems keen to use the loophole to entice the popular Swede down under.
Still, it is a huge outlay, and one that is worth questioning.
Guest stints have – of course – had mixed results in the A-League‘s short history.
Romario’s shortlived stay at Adelaide United was clearly only to further his quest to reach 1000 goals, but the impact of both Benito Carbone and Michael Bridges at Sydney FC was largely successful.
Larsson appears to have a far more grounded personality than the legendary Brazilian striker, and has consistently performed at a higher level than all three.
And he certainly has stature to stimulate would-be United supporters which, judging from the mediocre turnout to the club’s derby friendly with North Queensland Fury, might be just what is needed.
Many believe the A-League’s guest role is a ; an American-style initiative that lowers the league’s credibility.
They have a point.
But there’s no doubting the excitement Larsson would create if he was to move to the A-League.
Of course, at $100,000 a match, he’d want to perform well, lest he become a white elephant alongside Mario Jardel and the Melbourne Eye ferris wheel.
But if Palmer’s got the money to burn, then what better to spend it?
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