Regarding marquee and import signings, caution and scouting are necessary to make the right decision for salary cap and financial reasons.
On Saturday night, Western United and Italian forward Alessandro Diamanti stepped onto a football pitch for the final time of his career in a 2-1 victory over Perth Glory, announcing his retirement a few days prior.
The 40-year-old has been there every step of the way with the club since its inaugural season in 2019, experiencing all of the highs and lows.
Without a shadow of a doubt, he’s up there to be considered among the best imports to grace our shores, in the conversation with the likes of Alessandro Del Piero and Besart Berisha.
What has become an incredible journey could’ve easily not occurred at all.
Before the 2016/17 campaign commenced, Melbourne Victory was the first to recognise Diamanti’s talent but was denied to activate the ‘guest rule’ signing by the back-then FFA.
Diamanti has never been known for long stints, having experience playing in England for West Ham United and Watford as well as in his home country for clubs such as Fiorentina, Palermo, and Bologna on top of many other teams.
Alessandro Diamanti of Western United (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
At the time, he played for Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande on loan from Serie A club Atalanta, where he scored two goals against Victory in the Asian Champions League.
However, that wasn’t enough to convince the FFA that he was worth the money as they felt as though he didn’t meet their profile demands.
In an interview with Fox Football a couple of years after Victory’s approach, Diamanti confirmed that he was open to the idea of moving down under.
“I had a conversation with Alessandro Del Piero who was here in Sydney and he said ‘If you want to come, I want to try and bring you here.’
I said ‘Ok, I’m open to this’…but in the end, the A-League said no. I read that they had to Google me and said I was not strong like they wanted.
At the time, I think it was between me and [Tim] Cahill. They told me ‘You don’t have enough followers on Twitter’. I said ‘I don’t do Twitter, I play football!’,” Diamanti said.
Those passages of the interview sum up his character perfectly. The type of character who makes fans smile with an incredible sense of humour and has a positive outlook on life.
You just have to look at his activity on social media enjoying every second of Melbourne and Australia all while letting the public in on his lifestyle. It’s what makes everyone love and adore him.
Diamanti wasn’t brought in to take part in the Melbourne comedy festival, though. As he said, he plays football, and he’s sure delivered on the field.
Whether it be his half-way goal against Sydney, his sublime free-kick against the Phoenix to win the game at the death or his two incredible goals against the Wanderers which both chipped the goalkeeper, the Italian has certainly produced memories to cherish.
With the ball at his feet, something magical would happen. It was the sort of skill and artistry which had the ability to lift fans off their seats and have them stand up applauding in awe and admiration.
Finally, his skill and personality deservedly became recognised and appreciated, something the ‘experts’ at the helm of Australia’s head of football failed to do.
Despite playing 10 of the first 12 games before being sidelined for the remainder of the season due to injury, he was still able to contribute to help Western United claim their first-ever championship in the club’s third year of existence. The leadership demonstrated both on and off the pitch shouldn’t be underestimated.
11 goals and 18 assists in 82 A-League appearances might probably explain why the maestro isn’t talked about more often, but his value is worth much more than statistics put on a piece of paper.
Unfortunately, injuries and an opportunity robbed of playing in Australia at 33 years of age will make people look back and ponder what might’ve been.
With all that said, Alessandro Diamanti will still be considered one of the best imports to ever represent the A-League. Hopefully, we’re all able to come to the realisation of just how lucky we were to be blessed with a gem of a talent.
Diamanti farewells the game having helped grow Australian football for the better.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The FFA money is there for marquee player who will draw crowds across the competition, they are not there to fund MV the paupers because they cant afford a player. Diamanti would obviously have been a lot better at 33, so it was up to MV to pay for him, not for the FFA. That no one else has criticised MV for being cheap and not putting up the money is laughable.
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
Unforgivable because the FFA failed identify that he was a top talent. He was 33 then…what makes you think he wouldn’t have produced with more time on his side?
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
“In fact we get comments saying if only the best in the NRL and AFL play football we would be winning the World Cup” Some of those comments would’ve been from me because I’ve always said that. That doesn’t make it feasible to switch codes midway through a career in my opinion
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Why is it unforgivable. Diamanti was pretty ordinary for most of his time in the A-league whether you like it or not. Ronaldhino would have drawn bigger crowds, who is to say whether or not he wouldn't have been as good. This Diamanti love fest is bordering on ridiculous levels.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Where is the article saying that in the Australian media? Show me one article in these newspapers that acknowledges that. In fact we get comments saying if only the best in the NRL and AFL play football we would be winning the world cup, or they were in athletics we would be getting all the gold.
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
That’s rugby. That’s AFL. This is football. Completely different sports which with all due respect to rugby and afl, football requires more skill and development from a young age all the way through. A player switching codes such as Karmichael Hunt I thought was embarrassing for the AFL and an indictment on the skill level required to switch codes with such ease.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
In Australia the majority of people believe whether you like it or not you can swap sports easily as long as your a good athlete because they have been told this by the media and it can happen in rugby and AFL. In fact one newspaper actually expressed suprise that a certain famous rugby league player was playing in a low divison in suburban comps instead of the A-league. Thats the level of ignorance here. The issue with Bolt is overseas leagues cant waste a few million a year on him and get a return, whereas in Australia he is a huge drawcard and worth a lot more to a local football club in order of 20 million a year. It would have been record attendances for every A-league match Bolt would have played in and record ratings as well. Bolt who played football as his childhood sport was not that bad a player either, and if as you say he would have been awful then it would have corrected peoples perceptions. There was nothing to lose, everything to gain and it was rather suspicious the way the football media came down on Bolt. They certainly are masters of pretending that old marquees are super valuable.
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
At the end of the day, you focus on one sport. I don't think you understand just how many years of dedication and hard work are required to reach the level of becoming a professional footballer. Where has his 'football career' progressed since then?
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Why couldn't MV afford to sign him without FFA help is the real source of embarassment. Same story for Honda and Nani. Sydney didnt go to the FFA for funds to sign Del Piero, as we have seen MV is a club with shallow pockets.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Thats incorrect Bolt didnt train for athletics till his mid teens, he was playing football and cricket from a younge age. He didnt switch all of sudden he was actually training in Europe before the Mariners. If Bolt didnt look good in the A-league it would have sent a clear message to everyone in this country thats how high standard in the A-league is. It would have been the best promotion in the history of the A-league. The reason the Mariners didnt sign him is they needed to subsidise the contract with FFA money which went to Honda at MV .
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
Completely disagree. Bolt has spent his whole life training to become the best sprinter in the world. All of a sudden, he switches focus to playing professional football without the necessary development from a young age? What message would that be sending in regard to the standard of the A-League? The fact that he attracted 6k to a pre-season match and still wasn't offered a contract proves that he wasn't good enough.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Yes Bolt, who attracted 6k to a pre season game which bigger than Macarthur regular games. Bolt has also scored more goals for the Mariners than Scepevic has in a lot less games, Bolt who spent his childhood playing football not athletics. I would have played Bolt even if he was hopeless and he clearly wasn't. It would have been worldwide publicity.
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
Wouldn’t say he’s been a financial burden. Yes, what you said is correct going through season by season regarding how he performed, but he will offer so much going forward in terms of coaching here in Australia and sharing his knowledge and experience. We should feel lucky and privileged to have him on our shores. Also, you’re saying Bolt should’ve been given an opportunity?
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
One of those possibilities in 2016 was signing a 36-year-old Ronaldinho even though he hadn’t played football in a full year. Obviously a massive name in world football and a huge talent, but to reject Diamanti especially after his performance against Victory in the ACL is simply unforgivable
Punter
Roar Rookie
Firstly, yes 100% what a player & to watch him play was pure joy. Secondly, this explains FFA fully, no football nous, the Football administrators should really be catering for those who really want to be entertained, not some possibilities only if it suits them!!!
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
The fact that he wants to stay after how the FFA treated him a few years ago is just a testament to his class and great personality
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
He’s always loved Australia and and confirmed he wants to stay and coach. He was in his late 30’s and producing incredible performances…imagine if we had him at 33…
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Alessandro has been, and is, a gem. That twitter story is pretty embarrassing for everyone in a leadership role in Australian Football, and really, says a lot about us as a football country. I would love it if someone could find a role for him such that he remains in Australia.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Diamanti had one good season and has been a financial burden since. Lets not kid ourselves that Diamanti has provided value for money. His worst season was actually his second season when he wasn't injured because he missed so many chances. What about the endless attempts to chip the keeper. Third season Western United started off well and Diamanti failed to score when they actually played well then he was injured for the rest of the season. Fourth season there has been a bit of redemption because finally after 4 seasons and endless attempts he managed to chip the keeper and it won the match. Plus his other winner against Wellington. I would say Diamanti has Western United to thank for paying for 4 seasons when he only produced the goods in the first. Melbourne Victory are the one club you should never listen to, they have sabotaged the A-league with their demands for subsidised funding for dud marquees that never brought in crowds. The biggest single turning point in the A-league history was turning its back on Bolt to pay for Honda wages at MV. Nani is heaps more famous then Diamanti yet he didnt draw crowds , though Diamanti is Italian which is a lot better than Portuguese.
chris1
Roar Rookie
I hope Alex stays in Aus and the A League as he has so much to offer. Just his pure enthusiasm, honesty and love for the game would make him a great asset.