Melbourne City star Bruno Fornaroli has expressed his love for Australia and how much the community has been hospitable towards him.
It is the Uruguayans first season in the A-League and he currently leads the scoring tally by 22 goals, while City top the table with two games left.
Despite Fornaroli’s impressive campaign so far, he conceded he thought the league would not have been as difficult. The 28-year-old also encouraged more South Americans to give the A-League a chance.
“It’s been more difficult than I thought, here you need to play tough, focus and concentrate. Every game is difficult here,” the Uruguayan said.
“If you see the games, for example if you play the bottom team Central Coast, you can’t say it’s an easy game. It’s difficult.
“I think the league has everything to progress, but the league also doesn’t take the risk to take more players from South America.
“Before I came here I had other offers elsewhere, I don’t know why I came here, i just felt something inside. It’s a good league, good country for life and also for the family, it’s perfect, it’s a good reason for players coming here.”
With the heavy scrutiny Fornaroli would receive in European Leagues from the general public, having played for Italian side Sampdoria and Greek side Panathinaikos, the City star has opened up about how much he loves his current life down under.
“With restaurants you have plenty of options, if you like South American food you have it, if you like Italian you have it,” Fornaroli said.
“You have everything here, whatever you want, the life here, every day you have something new, you can walk down the street and relax, for my family its perfect.
“This country has everything, I’ve listened to the people that say it’s difficult, but you don’t know the other side of the world and what happens there. I think Australia is a very good country.”
Melbourne City have a golden opportunity to take the premiers plate, they have a healthy goal difference of +22, and are on equal points of 44 with second placed Brisbane Roar.
Two wins against Perth Glory and a tougher task against third placed Adelaide United next week would guarantee them first position.
Glory have been on an outstanding run, winning nine of their last 10 games. Fornaroli was confident, but admitted it was no easy task travelling to Western Australia.
“I don’t watch too much of their games, I can’t because of my little girl who puts the cartoons on television during the games, it’s the real truth,” Fornaroli joked.
“Perth is hard, they’re a very good and they have good players. It’s a long travel, but when you stay there you need to focus on the game, the players don’t make excuses, we go there and try to win.
“Diego Castro is a fantastic player, he gets control of the ball and it’s hard to get it off him. He’s a smart player, I like watching Castro when he plays.”
Despite not giving a clear-cut answer to his future, Fornaroli indicated he intended to stay in the A-League.
“I’m very happy here, not only me but my family is very happy. I have one more year with the club, but I can’t think too far ahead to the end of the season,” he said.
“I need to focus on now for the two games and the finals. I’m only focusing now and Sunday, it’s a very good moment for me and the team, when the moment is good you need to enjoy it.”
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