Former Chelsea star Michael Essien has opted against joining the Melbourne Victory for the upcoming A-League season, despite reports initially indicating the Ghanaian was on the verge of signing the deal.
Essien has knocked back an offer from the A-League club to join as a marquee player for the 2016-17 season despite terminating his contract with Greek side Panathinaikos earlier in the week.
The 33-year-old had played for just one season with the Greek giants, and still had a year to run on his contract when he ended his deal with the club. The move had been touted to pave the way for Essien’s arrival Down Under, but the deal eventually fell through.
“The club has been in constant discussions with Michael and his representatives, but due to some personal issues, Michael has unfortunately decided not to move to Melbourne,” a Victory spokesperson told News Corp Australia.
The Victory had come to an arrangement with the FFA facilitate Essien’s arrival as a guest marquee player, and the signing of the former African Footballer of the Year would have provided the A-League with yet another international star, follow Tim Cahill’s arrival at Melbourne City.
With AAP
JR Salazar
Guest
Exactly. I am sure social media and online news sites are making up for the traditional print outlets not picking up their weight. Also, a massive match between the LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders that normally would have a bumper crowd was at half-capacity last Sunday due to weather and Major League Baseball.
JR Salazar
Guest
He'll be wasting his time in China. If he's injured that much, he needs to stop playing and walk away. He's done. The game and the A-League will go on without him. The A-League needs fit, younger players anyway.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Agree entirely with you there, Ben.
Bondy
Guest
You know nothing about football in America its nothing like you suggest or think , stick to Rugby champ ...
punter
Guest
I think I found your marbles.
Fuss2pointzero
Guest
A wise decision, he decided not to degrade himself publically as others like del Piero and fowler have. Any players entering the final phase of their career in top European leagues should head Stateside. The MLS is at least a decade ahead of the a league in every metric except column inches in their local media. Players play in packed soccer specific stadiums not the half finished stadium in gosford in front of three men and a dog with washed up drongos from England's third division. Despite being better than the a league their media doesn't give it much of a lookin whereas the media here gives totally disproportionate coverage to soccer. I am fuss2pointzero and I endorse this comment.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
I suspect Victory dodged a bullet here. Essien isn't the player he was and appears to be struggling with injuries for the past few years, as such I am not convinced he'd add to the current Victory midfield. Victory have the best (to my knowledge) off-field metrics in the league and once again, I am not sure he'd do much to improve their impressive bottom-line. In the end Essien would have been more of a boost for Victory's opponents who would benefit from a boost at the gate without having to deal with the distractions that such a player brings.
Bondy
Guest
You win some and lose some ....
striker
Guest
Probally more cash in China on offer.
Mark
Guest
Disappointing but not unexpected.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
Essien would have been a diamond, but how about a Diamante now. Lol