Melbourne Victory re-signing Marco Rojas has no regrets about his failed German sojourn and believes he returns to the A-League a better player.
Rojas signed a two-year contract with Victory on Thursday, linking up with the same club who helped him attract global attention.
He scored 15 goals and won the Johnny Warren Medal as A-League player of the year in 2012-13, which led to a four-year deal with German outfit Vfb Stuttgart.
But the 24-year-old struggled to get on the park for Stuttgart and the two parties mutually agreed earlier this week to terminate his contract.
“I’ve got no regrets. It didn’t go perfectly but I learnt a lot,” Rojas said in Melbourne.
“I’ve been away three years and I would be disappointed if I was exactly the same player as I was when I left.
“I’ve learnt a few different tricks and gained some experience from playing and training with the international players.”
Rojas admitted football had become somewhat of a drag in his final months with Stuttgart.
The New Zealand international was also desperate to rediscover his mojo before the 2017 Confederations Cup.
“I needed to find something new. I spoke to VfB and they felt the same way,” he said.
“It wasn’t the best situation and I kind of realised I was a bit surplus to the club and, when that happens, it’s not a good place to be.
“I’m still wanting to get better as a footballer, I need to learn and I didn’t think it would be the place to do that.
“It was pretty much why I decided it was time to come back.”
The Hamilton-born winger started his A-League career with Wellington, the Phoenix being one of many clubs who had been interested in recruiting him.
“There would always be a consideration (for Wellington) because New Zealand is where I was born,” he said.
“But Melbourne was where I thought would be best for me.
“We’ve always kept in touch with Melbourne and I had a good time here, it’s familiar to me and maybe that will help me get back to (top form).”
Rojas still harbours ambitions of playing in Europe’s top leagues but is happy to put them on ice for two seasons.
“I want to play as high up as I can … (but) I need to do my talking on the pitch,” he said.
“I need to prove that I can do what I did when I was here in the A-League.
“Once I do that, I can think about all the other stuff.”
AZ_RBB
Guest
There are rumours WSW are looking at an "explosive" winger to add to the team. We need another centre midfielder as well. Lachlan Scott and Bulut will be strong up front but they need the service from the wide areas and midfield. Derby will be absolutely massive.
MatthewSkellett
Guest
Looking forward to the new season too -Hope Popa signs Choi from BC as a back-up striker in case Santalab gets injured -excited to see how Lachlan Scott does at the top-level and how many goals Sotirio gets after putting four past the Young Socceroos and what Bulut will do for the fans too .Also ; the fanfare and hype around the derbies at ANZ Stadium -what a season !!! :-)
MatthewSkellett
Guest
Hey Mid!! Any official comment on Paul Okon signing on as CCM Head Coach ? :-)
tully101
Roar Guru
jezuz mate, that is a brave call, i agree victory must be favourites to win the comp. but what we have learnt so far in the a-league is that big names do not always deliverer. although i am expecting a very large gap between the top and bottom clubs, seems to be lengthening every season
Mark
Guest
All we need now is for Milligan to re-sign. "We're bringing the band back together!"
Mark
Guest
Yeah, I know. Would be nice if it stood for something a bit more flashy. But then again, BBC and MSN don't exactly stand for anything spectacular either.
Lionheart
Guest
hope so, just checked for any news and read a story about PFA having to chase overseas clubs, mainly in Asia for players unpaid wages. Maybe we're not as bad as we say. Also read where Miron Bliberg says we need a second club in Brisbane to smarten up Roar. Not sure I'd agree but Bliberg says he'd help fund a club. Need him and a few friends to chip in with Bakries.
Waz
Guest
There's a signing announcement imminent Lionheart. The jungle drums have been beating all week. The strength in the squad is the starting XI, it's bloody good; the weakness is the depth - it's unproven.
Lionheart
Guest
good one Waz I'm hopeful JA has those signatures lined up, or at least he's looking hard, a defender and an attacking forward hopefully. But you're right, our youth newbies will serve us as well as the departures, Henrique excepted.
reuster75
Guest
As a Victory fan i'm stoked that Troisi and Rojas are back. Troisi is an upgrade on Finkler (IMHO) and Rojas if he can recapture his old form is a like for like replacement for Kosta. Hopefully Valeri is able to play a full season as his presence was sorely missed last season. Georgievski is still a worry for mine in defence as keeps picking up needless bookings and often gets his positioning wrong. Can't wait for the season to start.
Bob
Guest
Victory are a shoe-in for the double surely!
Waz
Guest
The "Random Breath Test"???? Let's hope it doesn't turn out to be an ironic comment lol hic ...
Mark
Guest
Him and Troisi are fantastic signings. Victory front line already being called the RBT (Rojas, Berisha, Troisi). I'd certainly take them both any day of the week over a washed up 'marquee'. The season can't start soon enough.
Waz
Guest
I'll add my tuppence on this. Victory look to have made the best signings now, and are my new favourites replacing Glory, but only just. City without Mooy, who knows? And the two Sydney sides are depending on the quality of their signings, again - who knows? Adelaide are short on first team quality but there's still time to sign! Roar are again being written off by people who should know better. Here's my observations on Roar: - Roar have a better starting XI this season than last with the addition of a Specialist DM in Kristensen and a fully fit Oar and DeVere. Good enough to improve on last season imo. - the extended squad has been refreshed with youngsters. This is Roars "unknown". Donachie, Lustica and Henrique were all bench players and how well JA has replaced them is key. - Roar currently only have two visa players in the squad, they need to add at least two more to provide depth and competition to the starting XI. We may have an ACL comp to contend with and the squads not deep enough for that yet. - the off-field dramas will not have affected the squad, you can see that in the training for anyone that bothers to look (again, few "experts" have bothered to travel north to see for themselves). - this year the fans are in revolt. This is another "unknown" if the players turn out in front of small crowds it may affect them. I'll be there for sure but I've run out of words to try and persuade others to join me. So providing the worst is over with off field dramas, write Roar off at your peril. We have the most stable first team of any side, and that first team was one of the best on the Park last year. And just to qualify the earlier "favourites" comment ... that's "favourites" to meet Roar in the GF by the way! Go on, keep writing Roar off, you know we thrive on it :)
Waz
Guest
Very few people got the top 4 predictions right last year lol. It'll be the same this year.
Bondy
Guest
These kids are coming back just as quickly as they leave meaning they're not missing much ,same crowd sizes etc ...
Midfielder
Guest
Great signing
Franko
Guest
Yep, looks like Perth, Sydney FC, Melbourne V & C ought to be top 4. Unless Adelaide can pull a rabbit out of the hat, the Kuranyi deal has fallen through,
Cameron
Roar Guru
The season appears to be shaping up nicely for everyone but Roar, Adelaide and Mariners. Jeez how I hope they all bring something to the table. The coach for Adelaide could be the saving grace. For mariners who knows and Roar, well at present it's hard to think positive thoughts. Rojas will be another great addition to the leagues improvement in quality.