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I have no idea whether reports about Manchester City being interested in Aaron Mooy are true but there is a certain buzz around him. This Australian winter is going to be a long one for Melbourne City if they are hoping to keep their star midfielder.
The 25-year-old was a standout in the A-League last season and impressed for the Socceroos, particularly in last month’s loss to England.
Given the fact Manchester City are part of the same football group – and a much bigger part at that – then the speculation is not surprising.
The City project is an interesting one and will be much more so when Pep Guardiola arrives in England’s north-west. The City Football Group has grown recently as Melbourne, New York and (partly) Yokohama were added with persistent rumours that China will be the next addition to a stable that also includes Al Jazira from Abu Dhabi.
A Melbourne-Manchester Mooy move may sound exciting but in reality, it’s far from it. The reason is simple – it is highly unlikely that he is going to get any kind of regular playing time.
City are aiming to win back the English Premier League title next season with the most in-demand coach in the world at the helm. It would be hard enough for Mooy to break into the team as is, but after a summer of spending, he’d be better off elsewhere.
At this stage, Mooy’s star is still rising but he is approaching what should be the peak of his career and that means playing time is paramount. If there is little chance he is going to play on a regular basis then there is no point in wasting away on the bench or even further from the action.
A lack of minutes on the pitch would mean his national team spot could be in danger with the 2018 World Cup approaching. There are some national coaches who will persist with favourites even when not playing but Ange Postecoglou does not seem to be one who tolerates a situation like that for too long.
There was a time when players from Asia would go gooey-eyed at the chance to join a big European club but that is slowly changing.
I remember well when South Korean international Park Chu-young joined Arsenal in 2011. It was huge, if surprising news in his homeland but he would play just seven minutes of English Premier League football in three seasons.
The only thing his inaction achieved was to make a talented player a laughing stock in England while eventually damaging his reputation back home.
When he moved he was Korea’s top striker and perhaps, at the time, the best in Asia. Going to London though, basically ended his international career. Only now, back at FC Seoul, is he starting to play football again and it just goes to show the lure of a big club can be a dangerous attraction.
Signing and then not using Mooy wouldn’t be in the best interests for Manchester City either, given the relationship that exists between them and Melbourne. It simply wouldn’t be a good look if the first player moved between the two was one of the most sought after players in Australia and then left on the sidelines.
Mooy has plenty of options and more will come.
Manchester City may be attractive but is not the best place for him. It’s not the quality of the club but the quantity of the playing time.
Go to Europe by all means but pick a place where you will play.
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