Key Socceroos forward Brett Holman is set to leave English Premier League side Aston Villa after penning a deal with Dubai club Al Nasr.
The United Arab Emirates-based team confirmed the signing on its website on Friday, pending a medical examination.
Holman, who was among Australia’s starting 11 for Tuesday’s World Cup-qualifying win over Iraq, has hardly started a game at Villa this calendar year after joining them last season.
He has reportedly agreed to a two-year contract with Al Nasr and will replace Takayuki Morimoto as the club’s Asian player, according to local newspaper The National.
“Brett represents a strong signing for us as he’s an international player who has played in England, one of the top leagues in Europe,” Nasr board member Fahad Hadi was quoted as saying.
“He has the qualities that we needed at Al Nasr and, most importantly, he has a lot of experience.
“It’s good to have someone with that knowledge in our squad, and he will only improve the team.”
It’s believed the club will introduce Holman to media in the next 48 hours.
David Jones
Roar Rookie
Holman will bounce back with regular playing time and plenty of sun, surf and beaches. He'll be in the Brazil squad, no doubt and will play an important role too, even if its just keeping Harry Kewell amused.
Dean
Guest
Maybe he's positioning himself for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar? In all seriousness, how is sitting on the bench and playing on freezing pitches in the middle of England in Villa's 2s a better preparation for a World Cup in Brazil than playing in the heat of the UAE. Holman's a hard worker. If anything it means he'll be closer to Oz to fly back for friendlies or promos or other preparations.
Robbie
Roar Pro
Yes but I'm sure he could easily have found a decent club in Europe to get lots of game time. I would hardly call the UAE Pro League 'decent'. It's blatantly obvious that most players go there for there money. Look at the players who have gone to play in the Middle East, Brosque, Spiranovic, etc., and look how much they have fallen from grace. The only player to go to the Middle East and maintain their form has been Bresciano but he is excused for his actions because he is OLD. Holman is too young
Robbie
Roar Pro
Yes but I'm sure he could easily have found a decent club in Europe to get lots of game time. I would hardly call the UAE Pro League 'decent'. It's blatantly obvious that most players go there for there money. Look at the players who have gone to play in the Middle East, Brosque, Spiranovic, etc., and look how much they have fallen from grace. The only player to go to the Middle East and maintain their form has been Bresciano but he is excused for his actions because he is OLD. Holman is too young
Ian
Guest
Jb - hadn't checked the Roar for a couple of days. Worth a try? - definitely. A few Socceroos playing in the A-League can only be good. Only negative I can think of is that I thought Holger has been pushing for players to be in overseas leagues. Maybe I'm wrong.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Agreed.
Kane Cassidy
Roar Guru
This isn't as bad a move as what everyone is making it out to be.
Ralph Nadeer
Roar Rookie
Playing in the middle east has helped Bresciano and will be great for Holman too. Regular game time, match fitness, world class training facilities and not so much stress on the body. Holman will bounce back. Don't forget he was our best player in South Africa.
Ralph Nadeer
Roar Rookie
I'm not surprised. He hardly got a game for Villa man and the manager doesn't like him and told him to p1ss off. What's he to do. Holger prefers players who are playing regularly, even if its the A-League or the UAE League man. With Holman match fit and fully functional he will come back to be one of our best players man. If he stays in the EPL and doesn't play any games he won't be as much value to the Socceroos.
j binnie
Guest
Ian -Thanks for pointing out a simple truth,he was obviously not wanted at AV. ------Wonder if any HAL club saw him as a worthwhile marquee player, maybe not, but with Neill,Schwartzer and now Holman all being "available, pity FFA could not have brought them back on one year contracts and allocate them to HAL teams.That would have given us 5 of our Socceroo team here in Australia, pipe dream????? Maybe.Worth a try?, who knows? jb.
JK
Guest
what a terrible move....bresciano's career is past its peak, so that's a little more understandable. surely he could have been picked up by a lower ranked bundesliga team?
realfootball
Guest
He must have seen the writing on the wall anyway.
nordster
Guest
:) "in a social media orientated move"...im sure we will see that line in a report on a footballer soon enough! (Playing this new Grid game on ps3 and the amount of followers u have is like the new version of a points total.)
whiskeymac
Guest
Meh. Game time is essential not geography in the run down. It's a two year deal... He may move on after Brazilto somewhere the social media would prefer to the money on offer in the latter end of an otherwise good career.
pete4
Guest
The most disappointing aspect of this move is he only stayed at Aston Villa for barely 12 months. Surely after speaking of wanting to head to the Premier League from Holland for some years it was worth another season
Greg
Guest
Holman has not been playing for Villa for past 6 months. He needed to go, and ensure himself first team status. He got us out of a massive hole against Oman, so you can't be too harsh on him.
Stevo
Guest
Good luck to Holminho and let his playing do the talking. The bloke is a hard working example of what you can achieve with good but not exceptional ability. Please do not compare him with Bresc. The Bald One is a natural, instinctive player with more skills in his toe than Hilminho has in his entire body. He is one of the few current Socceroos that is of international quality. The Mid East league has not harmed his talent.
Holly
Guest
No calls to drop Bresciano I see - he plays in the middle east too. Although It is disappointing that Holman has gone there - surely he could have gone back to Holland (or Belgium or Switzerland for instance) for 12 months then taken the petro dollars - let's judge his position in the national team on his and others (Rogic ?) form over the coming 12 months.
Ian
Guest
Aston Villa looked liked they didn't want him anymore, so perhaps this was his only offer.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Bresc was coming off an injury run and had little recent game time. I think he had fresher legs because of it. Since he's been back, he's often not lasted much more than a half. Last two games Bresc was on for the full 90. He's just a class act, perhaps in this case the Middle East has lengthened his career? Brave act by Holman though.