Former Melbourne Heart boss John Aloisi has bought into the controversy surrounding David Villa, suggesting the Spanish striker may not be happy in the A-League.
Villa leaves Australia after Friday night’s match for Melbourne City against Adelaide United – just four matches into an expected 10-game stint – and City bosses are yet to negotiate his return.
A combination of football, family and marketing reasons are thought to be behind his departure.
Villa’s family has been settling in New York while he plays in Melbourne, with his next club – New York City FC – expecting him to fulfil football and promotional obligations ahead of the US Major League Soccer (MLS) season starting in March.
But no one understands why Villa or Melbourne City have not guaranteed his return.
It’s a delicate situation for the club, not helped by their winless start to the league season.
Aloisi, the man who preceded John van `t Schip as coach of the since-rebadged club, believes something is not quite right.
“If he’s missing his family you would think that they would just fly the family out,” Aloisi told Fox Sports.
“If they’re saying he needs to promote New York City (FC) over there, you would have thought they would have announced that beforehand.
“Reading in between the lines, I think there’s something else.
“I don’t know if he’s totally happy or if they’ve already planned he was only going to be here for four games.”
Aloisi was relieved of his duties as coach of the then Melbourne Heart less than a month before the announcement of the club’s takeover.
The oil-rich Abu Dhabi owners set in train an off-season transformation of the club.
The biggest on-field statement was the arrival of Villa, who as a guest player can play for up to 10 games.
The official announcement of Villa’s arrival from June this year said Villa would play for “a period” of the season.
“Villa … will play, train and contribute to Melbourne City FC’s Hyundai A-League campaign between October and December 2014 prior to the commencement of the MLS season in the United States,” Melbourne City’s statement reads.
With nowhere else to play competitive football between now and the MLS season in March, Villa’s one-way ticket out of Australia is a mystery yet to be solved.
Cpaaa
Guest
Love that word obtuse, first heard it in shoreshank redemption.
Cpaaa
Guest
Living it and it's hard. I actually appreciate and understand more the difficulties migrants have to face and have faced in a new land.
AZ_RBB
Guest
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/aleague-grand-final-melbourne-title-decider-could-be-moved-due-to-grounds-booking-dispute/story-fni2wcjl-1227105239192?nk=9ef9105ba27e0b1de658f4fe6784992f - uh oh!
AR
Guest
Fuss, if you hadn't already called yourself "Joe Davola" on other forums, I'd be tempted to refer to you as George Costanza: "It's not a lie - if *you* believe it."
Adrian none
Roar Rookie
nordster it still make AZ_RBB link true :) who woundn't want to be in Melbourne at Spring racing time of year
Adrian none
Roar Rookie
the loan is not a normal loan deal...he is own by the same owns it not even close to Liverpool calling Brad Smith back from Swindon all this about being away from Home...New York is not he home, it speak the same language as Melbourne ..
Adrian none
Roar Rookie
yes..it can be hard away from Home...but 2 weeks?? 2 weeks is stii adventure stage ....the talk started before last week anyway
nordster
Guest
Is that the promotion and relegation one? :)
Bondy
Guest
Fuss An interview with the Chair with Hill ( http://www.foxsports.com.au/video/?v=full-frank-lowy-1-on-1-chat_1227104799644&vc=-1 ) ...
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
"Lets look at todays Melbourne newspapers… " Fair enough - therein lies the problem. I haven't bought a hard copy newspaper in the past 10 years. The online Fin Review doesn't have any banners of David Villa, neither do any of the dozen or so newspapers that I browse every day. I watch FSN, ABCNews24 & SBS World News and don't recall any media conferences with David Villa other than the day after he arrived.
AR
Guest
"I don’t recall any fanfare, promotion & expectation surrounding David Villa that was initiated by MelbCity – other than to say he was coming." Really? I must say, your ability to lie is almost impressive. Lets look at todays Melbourne newspapers... In the sports sections, they feature large banner advertisements for Melb City FC. Prominently in the foreground stands David Villa in the new kit. Approximately 1/3 the size, in the background, stand other players like Duff, Koren etc. Go on...say there's no proof Melb City were responsible for that ad.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
"The difference here is that .. Villa came amidst much fanfare, promotion and *expectation* that he would play 10 games." I'm no cheerleader for MelbCity, but I don't recall any fanfare, promotion & expectation surrounding David Villa that was initiated by MelbCity - other than to say he was coming. They didn't divulge details of his arrival in Melbourne & there has been no media saturation - other than the initial press conference the day after he arrived. Incredibly low key compared to ADP, Harry, Emerton, etc. Why? He was a loan player - not part of the MelbCity squad for 2014/15
CEBEP1989
Guest
Ahhh sorry. Didn't realise this happened as part of the recent upgrade of training facilities. Cheers
Rusty0256
Guest
Really CEBEP, the wheelie bin thing is so last season. Everyone knows that with the massively increased budget allowance from Man Citeh the boys can now luxuriate in much larger ice-filled skips.
CEBEP1989
Guest
Two Words why he's going - Wheelie bins
AR
Guest
I think everyone understands how a loan works. The difference here is that Villa is arguably the greatest player to have graced the ALeague, and he came amidst much fanfare, promotion and *expectation* that he would play 10 games. He's leaving after just 4. Now, its not a scandal...but its absolutely newsworthy. To suggest otherwise is obtuse or stupid.
nordster
Guest
http://formodernfootball.com.au/ange-reveals-waited-fifa-15-ratings-finalising-socceroos-squad/ So good, OVRs save even drilling into the stats:) http://formodernfootball.com.au/libra-top-wanderers-mcdonalds-deal-sydney-fc-tampon-sponsorship/ 'Better dead than red' would be a better tagline, but then i am a borderline mysoginist or at least vaginaphobic!
AZ_RBB
Guest
Maybe he is struggling to live up to the expectations set by Maltese International Michael Mifsud. Can't handle the heat!
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Agree. The whole story is cringeworthy and a beatup. Villa is contracted to NYC where his family is and I presume they are setting themselves up for their stay in the Big Apple. Why have them stay in Melbourne for a few games and then uproot them for NYC? Is he missing his family? Most likely yes and that's influenced his decision to head over early. No big deal.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
He's a loan player. He's going back to the club that owns his contract. In the global world business, when you loan a player out, you can also call him back. Liverpool loaned Brad Smith to Swindon. Last week they called him back. If you sign a player on loan you take the risk of that happening in exchange for getting a quality player at a lower price (or free).