Aaron Mooy’s signing with Manchester City created shockwaves, but it has raised questions from some quarters of the Australian football fraternity in the fallout.
After a dazzling season for Melbourne City, it was inevitable that Mooy was bound for a new home this off-season. Speculation had been rife for the last two months, but the 25-year-old finally put the rumours to bed by inking a three-year deal with Manchester City. In hindsight, we should’ve seen it coming. After all, the two clubs share the same owners and it’s not the first time Manchester City has swooped for A-League talent. Both Luke Brattan and Anthony Caceres have since returned to the A-League and are on loan in Melbourne.
However, it still came as a surprise, given Manchester’s status as one of the world’s elite clubs and Mooy’s lack of experience in Europe. So, it begs the question – is this the best move for the highly talented midfielder?
Positives
It’s a move he deserves
There’s been a certain inevitably about Mooy moving overseas for a while now, and will now earn a reported $4 million a year.
Since he returned to Australia from Scotland in 2012, he’s been one of the best home-grown midfielders in the A-League. Mooy’s move from Western Sydney Wanderers to Melbourne City in 2014 saw him take his game to a new level.
Since arriving in Victoria, he has arguably been the most dominant player in the league and he was unlucky to miss out on the Johnny Warren Medal after a stellar 2015-16 campaign. The hard yards are in his legs, while Bolton Wanderers and St. Mirren provided him with an invaluable football education to flourish in Australia’s top tier.
It’s remarkable to see a player of his talent showcase a work ethic to match it and he showed during the recent Socceroos friendly against England, he did not look one bit out of place against English Premier League opposition.
Possibilities are endless
The move to Europe will supply Mooy with a plethora of different pathways he can take to further his career.
The environment in Europe should help him improve, with more games, a higher standard of play and tougher training sessions a reality he must become accustomed to. However, there is a good chance that Mooy’s mark will never be left in Manchester, but rather, the City Football Group (CFG) have signed Mooy to remain in control of his destiny, to a certain extent.
As good as the midfielder has shown himself to be at A-League level, it is fanciful to think he of the standard required to play in Pep Guardiola’s midfield.
https://twitter.com/AaronMooy/status/748479764554518528
Negatives
Potential loan to a the Championship
There’s also the very likely scenario in which City decide to loan him to a fellow club in England, and it’s highly likely that a Championship outfit could be considered the best fit. The style of the league would not best help him develop his already considerable talents.
A long-ball approach is utilised by many sides in the division, especially when under pressure, and this goes against the style of play seen under John Van’t Schip. However, the CFG will obviously want to get the best out of their sizeable investment and the choice of destination is key, if a loan deal is to be explored.
He reportedly bypassed offers from Belgium and Holland
Even before the Socceroos departed for their clash with England, speculation over Mooy’s future was rife. Club Brugge seemed destined to sign the midfielder, while clubs in the Netherlands reportedly circled for his signature, too.
Both the Belgian and Dutch leagues may be better suited to Mooy than the Championship due to their focus on tactical versatility. There is a good chance he would flourish in either league where his skill-set could be explored as a player looking to learn, rather than leading the pack as he did so consistently in Melbourne.
In terms of settling into a new team, signing for a club he is increasingly likely to be afforded match time might have been beneficial right away, rather than the probable fate awaiting him in Manchester of being sent out on loan.
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