The presence of Sebastian Pasquali in Melbourne Victory was like the passage of a shooting star – very bright in a short time.
The midfielder – who had his first minutes in the 4-1 defeat against City and then participated in the victory of the ‘Blues’ against Adelaide United – will be in the next few hours joining the ranks of Ajax.
Far from being a good news, the team coached by Kevin Muscat lost not only an important parts but also a player whose projection knew no bounds. Seb Pasquali was meant to be the star of the future in the A-League.
The author of these lines wonders who is the ‘mastermind’ behind this transfer. Who was the person who convinced a boy of 16 years with only a few minutes as a professional, that he was ready for the European football?
Pasquali is still in the middle of a learning process, being formed not only as a player but also as a person. Seb has not yet reached a point of maturity that allows fronting the experience of being thousands of miles from home, in a much less friendly atmosphere than Melbourne.
In the Netherlands he will be one among many boys who are seeking to achieve the dream of becoming famous footballers.
No one doubts Pasquali. Surely the boy will succeed. But you can not overlook the fact that we are talking about a young footballer, who still has to make a way in the Australian football.
Due to the example set by Lionel Messi, in the world of football, everything seems easier. Breaking the boundaries of reality, dynamiting the laws of physics, transforming any material into gold. Everything seems achievable.
But the truth is that cases like Messi are unique. What is most surprising about the Argentine player is not his enormous talent but the fact that at an age when most children are still dreaming of becoming astronauts, Messi had to face rootlessness in pursuit of a dream and a future for the rest of his family.
When Leo came to Spain at the beginning of the last decade, Argentina lived the last moments of an economic implosion. The fall of the peso against the dollar, rising inflation and an unemployment rate well above 30 per cent were too much for a society that was on the verge of collapse.
In those years (and today also) be a good football player was perhaps the only way you had of saving your family from poverty.
Messi is not only the best soccer player for his talent, but also by their mentality. He could endure something that many can not: the pressure.
The question that underlies all is this: what is it that motivates Seb Pasquali for this risky move?
Who was the person who influenced him to make such a decision?
We hope things go well for the young Seb but we can not fail to note that the boy has perhaps made a mistake that could damage his career.
Nemesis
Guest
Pain: given enough chances & did nothing Makarounas: given enough chances & did nothing; was even given responsibility in ACL instead of Finkler Nabbout: given enough chances & did nothing Jeggo: given enough chances & did nothing at Victory; went to AUFC and took his game to the next level under Amor. That's football, some players hide under some coaches and thrive under other coaches.
pauly
Guest
Pain, Galloway, Makarounas, Jeggo, Nabbout But one got the feeling Pasquali, along with Nigro, were going to get some opportunities with Victory as they showed some exquisite abilities for their age.
BigAl
Guest
Not surprised, not disappointed, just grateful to get an update on this saga, which when it started left me a little gobsmacked that the boy and his whole family would move to another country and his father would be 'employed' by the club - essentially meaning that the whole future well being of the family was placed on the shoulders of a nine year old boy. Did not sound right !
Nemesis
Guest
So, you're surprised a kid who was technically strong at 10 years old may not progress to the highest levels as a professional? Wow. Are people really that simple? Now I understand why email scams work so easily on Australians.
BigAl
Guest
Thank you so much for the update on Rhain Davis - I clearly remember pondering just how it would turn out for him and his family. To put the best spin on it one could say . . . well, he's still only 19 ??
marcel
Guest
Cahill 18 Kewell 15 Neill 17 Moore 18 Aloisi 16 Chipperfield 26 but yeah im being pedantic...
AZ_RBB
Guest
What are the correct dates? Pretty certain about all of them. Don't think any are wrong by more than a year which doesn't change the point I'm trying to make
Rob Gremio
Roar Pro
There was a story about him on the TWG website, I think. He states he was hampered with injuries, but that he is now fit and firing. One to watch, I reckon. But yeah, he went pretty quickly from the Roar to Germany...
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I stand on the shoulders of giants, grand contributors to the Roar, such as Fußball ist unser Leben, as just one of many examples.
marcel
Guest
I hate to be a pedant...but Aloisi is the only one on that list that is actually correct.
Maestro
Guest
An article that is so full of personal opinion with little knowledge of the football landscape. Did you know that Victory's record of developing players is littered with lies and mistruths? See the treatment of Joey Katebian, no opportunity given, leading scorer in NPL and Youth League, now at Brisbane. Two players aged 19 Dover & Cavallo) had trials overseas throughout the 2016 season, players sort permission whilst on youth contracts, Victory said if you go trial don't bother coming back! Done, players go trial and do not return, back to local NPL clubs. Note, one of them came off the bench last Friday night for Melbourne City. Currently, the best ball playing team in the A League. MVFC chose to "scare off" Juventus from signing him, who wanted him months ago. The Coach/Club decided to send correspondence to Turin detailing his injury history rather than a recommendation. Family was livid. If Victory were serious he would have been on a senior contract to tie him to the club, and conversely pay the appropriate compensation down the chain, rather than a Youth contract that requires no compensation, 7 days notice of termination by either party then the player returns to being an amatuer. The decison to go is purely about moving into a football culture, to develop with the best opportunity. The lack of opportunity in the A-League whilst clubs continue to sign recycled local PFA backed players and overseas journeymen will continue to be at the detriment of the local players' development. I think you will find his family made a decision to benefit the lad, not anyone else. Maestro out!!
Fadida
Guest
Good post
Fadida
Guest
Well said
marcel
Guest
Wow...you really do fancy yourself dont you MF
marcel
Guest
Hola Juan. Id have to say that I disagree with the premise of your article about as entirely as is possible. Are you seriously suggesting that MV are better placed to develop the boy than Ajax? As for age? The truly exceptional players in world football debut at the highest level around 15,16. The best below them debut around 18,19 It is unusual for players that come "online" in their early 20s to rise above the middle of the pack. Professional Football clubs can source players from all over the world..they are not interested in developing players who have progressed beyond their teens....they might take on someone that they think only needs a bit of tweaking / polishing...but that's it. And ask yourself this question...If you were a 16 yr old, would you say no to Ajax, quite possibly the most respected academy on the planet ? But anyway..thanks for your article...always nice to hear from new contributors.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Actually you'll find that a lot of our greats moved to Europe at a young age Tim Cahill - 16yo Harry Kewell - 16yo Lucas Neill - 16yo Craig Moore - 17yo John Aloisi - 16yo Scott Chipperfield - 16yo So yeah this is a very normal step for a talented young player to take. Ajax might be bigger than some of the clubs those above went to but like I said elsewhere yesterday Ajax has the highest number of academy products currently playing top division football in Europe. The facts and figures show that this is the right move to the right place at the right time. Best of luck to the kid.
Nemesis
Guest
Yes, there are. Students who achieved high marks in their HSC year, were offered scholarships or placements with US universities. I don't know if European or UK universities offer such incentives. But I do know US universities have done this.
aladdin sane
Roar Rookie
Ajax academy widely regarded as the best in the world, it is 100% the right move. If he's good enough to be getting minutes in the HAL at 16, he'll be good enough to move back at 19 if he doesn't cut the mustard. Makes me wonder though, with clubs like Ajax circling, how he wasn't selected for junior NTs - particularly as both u16 and u19 sides appear to be going backwards at the moment.
Aethelbert
Guest
Someone should tell Juan Manuel D'Angelo that Ajax has one of the best academies in Europe and most players would kill to be trained there.
Bob
Guest
Are there any undergraduate scholarships available to Australian school leavers that will fund undergraduate study at ivy league unis in the us or England? I know of quite a few post grad scholarships that are offered to outstanding graduates of Australian universities but none to school leavers.