Rumours surrounding the Central Coast Mariners indicate that 17-year-old prodigy Mustafa Amini has signed a four-year deal with Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund.
I have watched this kid since he started playing for the Mariners. He was without doubt the best talent at 16 I have ever seen. He played so well in the grand final at 17, always trailing a marker and sometimes two.
It showed he had the full respect of opposition coaches and players.
I must congratulate Graham Arnold for the way he handed Musty. He never over-played him, once saying he did not want him hacked out of the game at a young age.
Most of all I am glad I saw him play – he was in my opinion the best touch player the A-League has ever had. His passes and vision were often many steps in front of his teammates, though it saddens me a bit to say that.
What he lacked at his age was physical strength, the energy to run out a full game, and some level of street smarts. But to their credit, rather than make him run up hills carrying bricks to get stronger, the Mariners coaching staff continued to develop his positional play and technical game.
Again, Graham Arnold, take a huge bow.
I will miss Musty and the wigs around Bluetounge. I will miss Musty standing around in any weather to sign shirts and talk to the local kids, who were massive fans of both him and his hair. Musty was often still on the field when the rest of the team were in the sheds.
A lovely young man with massive potential, we Coasties have fallen for him, and in a short time he has become a legend. We’ll be sad to see him go.
But as someone posted on our forum, “if you love someone you must let them go and maybe some day they will return.” I hope Musty does come back to Bluetounge one day.
Jon
Guest
I watched Amini play in a trial game at the start of the season against Sydney FC and it looked like he didn't know where to run. I left feeling disappointed, thinking that he was another overhyped youngster but he has improved so much. Him and Matthew Ryan actually, I came away thinking he was the next Almunia. Well done to them both!
Borussia and Australia 4ever
Guest
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUSTAFA!!! roarchild: you got up at 2 or 3 am just for watching bayern-dortmund? wow... nice to see that there are fans around the world ;-) you like watching kagawa? then you have to see mario götze... he's the new messi hehehehe... but götze and amini together... that woud be great show
Roarchild
Roar Guru
Thanks for the kind words. Dortmund vs Bayern was the European match I most looked forward too (and enjoyed) this year because of the Langerak factor (I also like watching Kagawa). I don't watch too much of it live because of the time zone difference so I prefer local football but that game was well worth getting up early for. What I love about the Bundisliga is the openness of the competition and the that because of the fantastic crowds each game feels like an event.
Borussia and Australia 4ever
Guest
niiiiiiice goal... would love to see goals like this next season in the bundesliga for borussia dortmund... it's interesting to read your comments and to see what you think about the german bundesliga... i think the bundesliga will become one of the most famous leagues in europe over the next years because german clubs are financially the best clubs in europe... the spanish, french and italian clubs have so many liabilities... ok i think the EPL is financially also well organised but when people like abramowich will go home and take their money off the clubs then they will also have a problem... i hope that amini would decide to join dortmund because dortmund has such a good youthdivison that he will PERHAPS become a great player also for the australian national team.... and look what your national team has played for a nice game against germany... and take a look to mitch langerak... he has played his first game for dortmund against bayern munich (the best team in germany)... he made such a great game WOW... no one expected him to play a game like this because dortmund haven't won a game IN munich since more then 18 years... and we made it 3:1 for dortmund... so thats it from me... i'm sorry for my english and hope you understand what i wanna say... have been to australia 5 years ago and love this country... have a nice day in australia...
Midfielder
Guest
AF EPL has gone from number say three or four to number one... Bundesliga is now the 3 or 4 league ... so makes kinda sense to me... BTW have a look at the Musty youtube...
Midfielder
Guest
Musty at the under 19 world championships ... his second goal ... WOW ... Enjoy .. http://www.youtube.com/user/MisterCelery?feature=mhum#p/u/1/ja05hKFb8tM
Danny_Mac
Roar Guru
After the world cup, German development is the apple of the world's eye. Even England are casting envious glances at what they are doing and looking how they can apply it to improve their national team. I think that it is the best place for Aussies. Coaching is second to none, and you're far more likely to get game time. Mitch was never going to get a gig week in-week out for the English, Spanish or Italian equivolent sides... and at the end of the day, being involved with the matchday squad is the most imporant part of your development.
Australian Football
Roar Guru
It's interesting that the Bundesliga has become the league best suited for Australian Footballers. I'm personally delighted that our guys see greater value in German Clubs than the English clubs. Germany is a very technically minded football nation with excellent facilities. Osie (our German mentor) will be able to track the progress of our guys a lot easier in Germany then anywhere else in the world.
Roarchild
Guest
When you see the price they paid for Kagawa there truley the kings of getting value. Hard to begrudge them though as they have a great league that's run based on genuine income rather than sugar daddys.
whiskeymac
Guest
am certain these talks have been going on for a long time. am pretty certain it was all lined up way before the finals. hopefully the CCM will stay fast. am sure they will because (i) they need the money (ii) they need a no 10. in any event I have all faith in Peter Turnbull. as Fuss said also the more players going to germany the better. two years ago was dutch clubs, this year its german. if we get a french coach wld they be in Ligue 1?=)
Bondy
Guest
Interesting discussion Gent's. Im learning something new in football everyday.
Trust Me
Roar Rookie
Mariners knocked back the offer for Mustafa Amini - it was too low, so he is staying put for now training with the U20 squad. Robbie Kruse's agent was locked in negotiations for weeks with a German club and it took 3 attempts to get a decent price for him. The German football clubs are notoriously hard nosed when negotiating for foreign players and they don't pay as much as the EPL, Seria A or La Liga.
Midfielder
Guest
Fuss $ 750, 000 plus a sell on % plus a first team payment as well...
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
What is the CCM fan base thinking would be a reasonable fee, Midfielder? I have no idea on such valuations but would $500-750k PLUS a percentage of future transfers be reasonable? Nearly, 12 months ago to the day, MVFC went through the same bidding with Dortmund (http://www.theage.com.au/sport/soccer/german-giants-bid-for-langerak-rejected-20100413-s7lw.html) whose 1st offer was $400-500k, but the deal was sealed on the 3rd offer for around $1m plus a % of transfer fees. So if you're after $500k for Amini, maybe a 1st offer of $250k is about right. Important that CCM does not blink - just like MVFC didn't blink ... let the bidding begin!
Midfielder
Guest
Fuss Our forum says the offer was only $ 250, 000, .... with no sell on %.... or if he plays first team football, just a straight $ 250, 000, take it or leave it...
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Midfielder Based on MVFC's dealing with Dortmund over Langerak, expect the Germans to be canny buyers - they certainly won't give their final price at the 1st attempt. Borussia Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp is certainly impressed and recently told RevierSport.de: "Amini can definitely play football and is a really great talent". If the coach of the team that is odds on to win the Bundesliga title thinks the lad's got talent ... it certainly tells me exactly where the A-League is currently at. Let's see what Dortmund's 3rd offer is. ;-)
Midfielder
Guest
Fuss As things have turned out the Mariners have rejected the offer [the article took some time to come through] .... but somehow me thinks the offer will be lifted ... In the meantime if Musty does play for us go and see him if you can...
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Strangely, whenever I hear of another HAL player being lost to an o/s club - rather than feeling sadness or disappointment, I am bursting with pride and am overjoyed. Not only are such transfers great for the career-development of the individual, but, for me, it is further evidence of just how far the A-League has come in 6 short years. Despite the constant negativity about the HAL written by disgruntled (alleged) football fans and the ignorant analysis of non-football people, each year the facts tell us: a) the quality of football being played in the A-League is excellent b) the standard of footballer being developed is excellent And, above all, it tells us that the HAL is firmly on the radar of people outside Australia, who actually understand the game. Such people, who understand the Game, aren't interested in the politics or the business of the A-League - whether clubs are unprofitable or attendances are poor. All they care about is the quality on the park. Whilst it is great to see our players move to top clubs in Japan & South Korea, to have players move to Germany is about as good as it gets. For me, German football is the benchmark for the world. Simply, the German have - for the past 60 years - been the most consistent at producing top quality football at international and club level. In just 3 years we have seen the Germans sign: Rukavytsya, Leckie, Langerak, Kruse, Vidosic & Amini.