The word on the street is that Daniel Arzani has an attitude problem.
Such a view appears to have weight when considered alongside his tendency to run pretty briskly whilst in attacking mode and work far less when forced to turn, chase and eventually defend.
However, the rumours about Arzani’s attitude towards authority, the strong influence his father played early in his career and the brilliant yet sometimes lazy visual evidence we see on the pitch that back them up, are merely that: rumours.
As a man, Arzani comes across as a friendly and bubbly sort of character, and one deemed good enough to travel to the 2018 World Cup in Russia on the back of little more than potential.
In recent days, the announcement was made that the 24-year-old would now join Melbourne Victory, signing a two-year deal with the club that takes him back to the city where he played his best football whilst only a teenager.
Arzani played a handful of good games with Macarthur FC in the most recent A-League season, yet was granted a release, obviously keen to settle back into a comfortable lifestyle in Melbourne and get his promising yet still unfulfilled career back on track.
Whilst with Melbourne City between 2016-18, the Iranian-born Arzani influenced off the bench, became known as one of the most explosive dribblers of the ball in the competition and loomed as a new star of the Australian game.
So impressive was he that Manchester City came calling, signing and then loaning him to Celtic in Scotland, setting the young man on a developmental path they hoped would turn him into the complete article.
Celtic’s Daniel Arzani goes off injured during the Scottish Premiership match at Dens Park, Dundee. (Photo by Jeff Holmes/PA Images via Getty Images)
A torn ACL on debut in the first team destroyed the first season of a two-year deal and Arzani never made it back into league action the following campaign.
Short loan periods at Utrecht, AGF and Lommel featured some first-team football, yet second-tier play in Belgium was not what most had envisaged for a player increasingly looking like being one of Australian football’s greatest underachievers.
His return to Australia for the 2022-23 season with Macarthur had some believing it was a wise move for a player running out of time. A blistering start to the season seemed to have confirmed that opinion and stellar form in the Australia Cup matches helped the Bulls to their first-ever piece of silverware.
Sadly, for much of the league season that followed, the Bulls stank; winning just seven matches. Arzani was unable to recapture his best in a struggling side that lost a coach and interest by the midpoint of the campaign.
Nine clubs in seven years sums up the stuttering career of Daniel Arzani. However, with plenty of kilometres back in the legs after a solid season, Melbourne Victory may well have pulled off one of the shrewdest acquisitions for the upcoming season.
If, and it is a considerable if, Arzani blends into a firing Victory side that Tony Popovic returns to dominance and back into the finals, we might be on the verge of finally seeing something like the player we all hoped he could be.
There were good signs at the Bulls, yet the team failed as a collective, with decent individual performances lost in a pool of ineptitude. But what of Arzani in a Victory front-line containing Chris Ikonomidis, Ben Folami, Nishan Vellupillay and Bruno Fornaroli?
That is some serious firepower and the sight of the new man charging at defenders on the left edge of the box and slotting balls into the path of Fornaroli for tap-ins is far from unimaginable. With Portuguese Nani having departed the club, Victory will have a big signing in the works, to add to a squad the looks far better than the 11th-placed finish of last season.
It feels like a crossroads moment for Arzani. Essentially, this could be it. A chance to finally dispel the rumours that many have used to explain his failure to bloom as predicted.
Melbourne Victory might be doing Australian football the biggest favour of all. Or, another failure could send Arzani to the scrap heap as he crosses the midpoint of his 20s.
Let’s hope not and that finally, Arzani re-emerges as a serious footballer with the Melbourne Victory.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
got to add, I know absolutely nothing about either of these two new guys other than what I have read in recent days in press reports
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
I think it's seen as a very positive move, although the cynics are out and about as usual. Fong has been both Chairman and CEO for the past 18 months after the unexpected and sudden departure of former CEO David Pourre (for a medical reason). Fong is part of the Bakrie business, whereas the two appointments, CEO and COO, are both Australian, former footballers. New CEO Kaz Patafta comes with commercial experience. The Roar website emphasises his infrastructure and capital market experience - maybe an indicator of what we can expect to come. Importantly for fans, announcement #1, step #1 - a fan forum, next week. That's a pretty strong statement of intent. P'i#$d I can't be there.
338
Roar Rookie
Just saw that too Grem. Guess we will have to wait for Waz or maybe Lionheart for a view? Change at roar could be good? Like ALDI...good different??? I hope so
Grem
Roar Rookie
Chris Fong gone - is that good? Patafta and Anderson in - us that good? Wait and see?
Garry
Roar Rookie
I laughed at the comment Brisbane was hosting the Womens WC rather than hosting GAMES in the WWC :happy:
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
I love the line from Schrinner "World Class Stadiums close to the city" ??????? What Suncorp and ????????
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
5 years ago was showing signs of being a superstar,and now lets hope we can finally see this great talent of a young player shine.
Waz
Roar Rookie
He should have signed for a club in Australia’s sporting capital: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/it-s-official-brisbane-is-the-sports-capital-of-australia-20230711-p5dngt.html
Tigerinthetank
Roar Rookie
There is always a chance at 25 that he might change his football, but I think like other's have pointed out that his biggest problem is attitude. As a City fan I know watching him that he certainly was great with his feet while attacking however as youth do sometimes not very good with his finishing. But the problem always was a failure to do the hard yards and track back, many a time he'd just drop his head when he lost the ball and wait for someone else to get it. Does'nt work in the City system and does'nt work in many other systems these days. Joyce, and say what you like about him, he had plenty of experience with youth, always said he did'nt want him to go and that he was'nt the finished article and the above problems with defensive output was what I reckon he was referring to. City forum was asked the question whether we would take him back and it was a resounding no from most posters. Good luck to him if he can turn it around but I think he's not the sort of guy who can eat a bit of humble pie and apply himself to all facets of the game.
mrl
Roar Rookie
I was reckless, rather than intentional.
Grem
Roar Rookie
That’s AwFL. They even have control over our comments! You should have argued your case better. - From the AwFL Tribunal - It is important to note that an incident involving accidental/incidental conduct, or negligible impact, will be rejected and the player will receive no penalty, ...
TenTribesOfTexas
Roar Rookie
Daniel is not a winger. He lacks the pace for a winger. He could be a great controlling or attacking mid in the style of Mooy because his dribbling is excellent if he can get his passing in order. Wont be surprised to see him in the midfield for Victory
NoMates
Roar Rookie
All hype and was exposed last season. Sorry but his best days are behind him, cant half tell watching him play he is living of past glory's why'll receiving a paycheck he doesn't deserve. Which is probably why he is one of there (Victorys) lowest paid signings. If he is just in it for the paycheck then go play for Roar or Perth. Ill be very surprised he will get a full 90min at Victory.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
I wouldn't credit Popavich for turning D'Agostino's career around. Far from it, D'aggers didn't get a look in under Popa until he went away with Arnold's young Socceros, U23s for AFC and Olympic qualifiers. Arnold played him regularly and he scored some top goals, got them to Tokyo. Popa started to give him game time after he returned from Thailand with Arnold.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
on the road again, Willy Nelson is a folk hero and gets it right year after year when it comes to Roar's Australia Cup draw. Probably need to give R Aloisi a bit more time, that will be his first competitive match.
338
Roar Rookie
Never been a fan of Arzani and agree with Lionheart – he spent more time trying to pull fouls than staying upright which never goes well in my books. But good on victory – hopefully it’ll give Roar an advantage when they meet this season with one less player to worry about when we attack ???? Surely this is Stuart’s last pump up of Daniels tyres after the pre-world cup hype!!!
mrl
Roar Rookie
I would love to contribute more, but I am on a yellow card with the Mods. I think I upset the AFL fanboys.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I wasn’t sure about which game was lined up for them, but whichever team they come up against – it will be interesting to see them play. Sydney got CCM again. It would be nice to get a derby v a Sydney team, but what style of play we have and what players we use will be interesting as well.
Garry
Roar Rookie
well MV play Jets on Monday for starters & Perth V Macarthur Tuesday so presumably theyll play one of those..checked, they play Monday’s winner away it seems
Grem
Roar Rookie
We should see Daniel next Monday night in The Australia Cup game – Newcastle Jets v Melbourne Victory on 10 Play. Then on Tuesday we can watch Macarthur v Perth (Daniel De Silva back for Macarthur OR Tottenham v West Ham in Perth. And this Friday night we have The Matildas v France and on Saturday we have Perth v West Ham. How good do we have it these days as football supporters? This never happened when I was young.