Australia forward Daniel Arzani is hoping to revive his injury-hit club career with a move to the Netherlands when his loan spell at Celtic ends, the 21-year-old said.
Arzani, who joined the Scottish side on an extended loan from Manchester City in August 2018, suffered a knee ligament injury 23 minutes into his Celtic first-team debut and has managed one appearance this season after returning.
(Photo by Jeff Holmes/PA Images via Getty Images)
With the Scottish Premiership suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and his loan scheduled to end in June, Arzani is keen on a fresh start next season.
“Holland comes up because it’s a selling league and they develop a lot of really good talent,” Arzani told The World Game.
“But they’re not the only league to have done that.
“It’s been a really tough last two seasons for me. Celtic’s been tough, there are a lot of good people there and it’s a good club, but the most important thing is game time and I wasn’t getting that.
“I was getting frustrated with injuries and things like that and the most important thing now is to look forward and go somewhere I think I’ll get game time.”
Arzani said he was in peak condition working with a personal physiotherapist and Socceroos strength and conditioning chief Andrew Clark monitoring his progress.
“There’s no point in looking into the past and the negative things that have happened… The aim is to stay in Europe and give it a proper shot,” he added.
stu
Guest
This has become the standard line for any Australian player ending up in the SPL. Some can't compete due to injury, some can't compete due to not being good enough. Some Enjoy staying with Celtic or Rangers as they get medals every year and Euro soccer experience. Does anyone seriously see to problem as being the SPL or is this the only route for our players into Europe. It has become so common for our players to take this route that they need to be questioned, not the SPL. They can say no. In the case of Rogic....many on these pages beat their chests in despair that he is playing with Celtic but don't listen to his own comfort at earning good money and getting on the field when he can in a competitive squad. We still maintain a blinkered view on the ability of our player stocks.
Mahler
Guest
I agree that Daniel Arzani has wasted his time in Scotland. So has Rogic. OKay, Rogic's a classy player but he could have been so much more playing in a better league. Where does scottish football figure on the international stage? Both these lads deserve better.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
A bright talent wasted in Scotland IMO. City Football Group has not done Daniel any favours with his placement at Celtic. He should have gone to the continent in the first place and found his feet in a well regarded, technically strong league that can develop players.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Holland is a decent step up from Scotland. Hopefully his aim is less Ajax and more VVV Venlo as he needs game time and is not going to command a high salary. A PR tip for the lad; don't discuss your ambitions to go to Holland in terms of your desire to leave. Talk standards, culture, cheese. windmills.....anything other than your desire to leave before you have arrived.