Superstar Melbourne City signing Tim Cahill says it was an easy decision to join forces with the City Football Group (CFG) after advice from close friends Phil Neville, David Moyes and Mikel Arteta, ignoring interest from the Middle-East and a contract renewal at Hangzhou Greentown.
Cahill signed a three-year deal for Melbourne City last week, signalling his return to Australian league football for the first time since 1997. The first two-years of that contract will see the Socceroos icon play out his club career and move into a coaching role with the club.
In a huge coup for City and the A-League as a whole, Cahill opted to turn down a new deal from Chinese side Hangzhou and link up with CFG’s Melbourne arm.
Former Everton colleagues, some now working within CFG, influenced his decision. The excited 36-year-old says in the end, signing for City was an easy choice.
“They all said the same ting when I spoke to Phil Neville, when I spoke to David Moyes, to Mikel Arteta, they just said this (City Football Group) is the place to be,” Cahill said
“It doesn’t matter what’s out there in the Middle-East or what’s out there in China, I knew when I made the decision, I knew when I walked through this door … that I was going to have a great time, and I can’t wait.
Tim Cahill officially presented with #17 #aleague pic.twitter.com/bDntX1h0Oe
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“There’s going to be a lot of pressure but that’s what happens when you join big clubs, and this is a big club and a massive group.
“The big one was when my son Shae texted me … we were away on an eight-day tour and I was sitting next to (Matt) Spiranovic and he just said ‘dad, it’s not the right move for my football if we stay in China’ and that was it.
“I rang Chris (brother) I rung my wife and said I rung Scott (Munn) who called Brian (Marwood) and I said ‘it’s over’.
“I closed talks with (Hangzhou) Greentown and they could have thrown anything at me, and they did.
“It was very easy negotiations, it was done very quickly. I came to this training ground months ago. People don’t understand the detail that’s gone behind this.”
Cahill is not expected to be match fit for City’s FFA Cup clash with Brisbane Strikers but is targeting a return in round one of the A-League, where City will meet Wellington Phoenix.
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