The sorry saga of Bruno Fornaroli’s time at Melbourne City is over after the wantaway player agreed terms to leave his A-League home.
The Uruguayan has agreed a severance package with City and will leave the club immediately after his infamous falling out with under-fire manager Warren Joyce.
Fornaroli is expected to sign a deal to join rivals Perth Glory, but is unable to join the title hopefuls until next season.
The 31-year-old’s exit is an unsurprising but sad end to his fantastic career in Melbourne.
After signing as an unknown journeyman in 2015, Fornaroli set an A-League record for goals in his debut campaign, was promoted to the club’s captaincy and handed a fat marquee deal.
Then a savage injury suffered in the FFA Cup prior to the 2017/18 season changed the trajectory of his career.
Fornaroli broke his ankle under the weight of a tackle from Hakoah’s Bradley Walker and spent five months on the sidelines.
He was still able to score five goals in eight starts as City lost their semi-final to Newcastle Jets last May.
A second shift occurred this pre-season when City staff took the view that Fornaroli wasn’t fit enough or committed enough for their campaign.
In November, coach Warren Joyce took the hardline approach of dropping their best player and making public their grievances – a move from which the pair were not able to reconcile.
City announced Fornaroli’s departure in a statement on Tuesday, noting Fornaroli’s 57 goals for the club.
“The club thanks Bruno for his contribution over the last three and a half years with Melbourne City and wishes him the best for the future,” it read.
Fornaroli’s departure and payout, on reduced terms than the $100,000 per month owed to him, represents a financial win for the club after paying the exorbitant wages for months without an on-field return.
City fans have revolted over Fornaroli’s sidelining, and are likely to be sickened should the forward return to goalscoring action for another A-League club.
They can at least look back on City’s 2015/16 campaign, when Fornaroli scored 25 goals in the most attacking side the competition has ever seen.
Combining with Socceroo Aaron Mooy and French winger Harry Novillo to dazzling effect, Fornaroli and City blitzed the league and scored 66 goals in a season – 18 more than champions Adelaide United and an A-League record.
City carried that form into the 2016 FFA Cup, which remains the only trophy the expansion club’s men’s team has won.
Joyce is uncontracted for next season and appears increasingly unlikely to stay on after winning just one game in his last eight outings.
Jordan
Guest
Losing to both Roar and CCM this season is a sackable offence
Griffo
Roar Guru
From the outside looking in this all appears to be 'Joyces way or the highway'. Which might be tolerated if CFG can make some coin every season or two for selling players that they pick up into their system. Fornaroli wanted to be released before this season but within the A-League that is not good (football) economy. Putting this another way: how much would swapping Sarri with Joyce and seeing how the Kepa incident played out have looked? You get the feeling Kepa would have been watching that cup final from the stands already. How far did Fornaroli go in ticking off Joyce?
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
In regard to the treatment of Fornaroli, i dont care who holds his contract it should be that the basline consideration is whatvis good for the league overall. Who says it's acceptable that in this instance Warren Joyce's ego is the governing factor. Joyce came from coaching youth to men. Does he still have the mindset thst comes with managing kids? Ifvdo he needs to take a long hard look at himself. A good manager is not only football smart, a good manager is also a good man manager. He knows each of his lads snd how to get the best out of them. Solskjaer is the perfect example. Look what he's achieved with Pogba. Mourinho and Joyce went to the same school of management. FFA should have stepped in and said release him to play elsewhere for the good if the league
Stevo
Roar Rookie
'Laughing stock' describes those at CFG who have stood by while this nobody coach has gone about his business of cleansing the team of 'difficult' characters. It appears that as long as you said 'yes sir, how high sir' you would be spared you place in the team. If Joyce's team was producing results and banging on the door of silverware and an ACL spot supporters might have given him some leeway. But not with this insipid, conservative game plan that's geared to minimising goals conceded. He's a one man wrecking ball.
Patrick
Guest
Warren Joyce has singlehandedly ruined our club. Fornaroli could have been a proper legend of the club. Gave everything he had everytime he stepped onto the pitch. Scored ridiculous curling goals outside the box. Kilkenny has gone on to be the metronome of Popovic' team and was shunned out. Fornaroli will score goals for fun with Perth. Cahill was too big of a character for Joyce. Brandan who wasn't doing that badly for our club was also shunned out. Not to mention absolutely no tactics. A better coach would get so much more out of this playing squad - playing with a bit of purpose.