Prominent football agent Jon Paul Michail has voiced his concerns over A-League clubs and their mindsets towards luring marquees, particularly when competing with Asian powerhouses.
As part of FIA Sports Management, a holistic agency that works with players and clubs from not only Australia, but Asia, America and Europe, Michail says Asia is becoming a “far more attractive” option for players looking for financial reward.
He also exclusively revealed to the Daily Football Show that trophy-laden Peruvian captain Claudio Pizarro was shopped around to A-League clubs during last July’s Copa America for little interest.
Listen below for the FULL chat:
The 37-year-old has had a decorated career in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen, winning 19 major trophies (17 for Bayern Munich) and scoring 178 goals, making him the top foreign goalscorer in German football history.
“Everyone who is intimately involved with football knows who Claudio is,” Michail said.
“He was willing to come to Australia – not for cut-price – but for reasonable figures.”
“There wasn’t much love showed for him.”
As a result, Pizzaro headed back to Werder Bremen for a third spell, where he has made 14 appearances in the league this season.
For that discussion and more about A-League marquees, listen to the FULL show:
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