Powerful striker Nick D’Agostino has left Melbourne Victory to hitch fellow Socceroo Gianni Stensness at Norwegian membership Viking.
D’Agostino – who final week scored a contender for objective of the A-League season in his struggling facet’s 1-1 draw with Adelaide United – has performed his final sport for the Melbourne membership, not having flown to Perth on Friday with the remainder of the Victory squad for Saturday night time’s conflict towards the Glory at Macedonia Park.
“We’re delighted our young players are being looked at by clubs and we’re very supportive of them progressing their careers,” Popovic stated.
“It’s wonderful news for Nick and for our football club.”
Viking completed eleventh in final yr’s Eliteserien, Norway’s high flight, with former Central Coast Mariners midfielder Stensness having made 37 appearances for the membership in all competitions prior to now two seasons.
D’Agostino, who joined the Victory in 2021 from Perth, scored 17 objectives in 42 appearances in all competitions for the Popovic-coached facet.
“Nick’s an emerging talent. (He) came to a big club (in) Melbourne Victory as never being a starter, turned into a starting player for Melbourne Victory last year, and made the Socceroos (team), and now we’re talking about clubs overseas being interested in him,” Popovic stated.
However, with D’Agostino gone, and the season-ending knee damage suffered by Portuguese import Nani. Popovic wants different attackers – together with former Glory ace Bruno Fornaroli – to step up.
Signed to a everlasting deal this week by the Victory after having initially joined the membership as an injury-replacement participant, the Uruguay-born Socceroo is but to fireplace and has been warming the bench in latest weeks.
“Bruno is a player that plays with so much intelligence, can hold the ball up and bring players into the game,” Popovic stated.
“Bruno’s a top player who has proven over the years what he can do.”
Fornaroli is bound to get a frosty reception on his return to Perth after departing the Glory in controversial style in late October.
Glory coach Ruben Zadkovich stated his workforce was not centered on the return of Fornaroli, or former Perth mentor Popovic.
“Our focus is firmly on us,” Zadkovich stated.
“I’m just worrying about what we’re doing.”
Despite Victory sitting final on the ladder after a horror spell on and off the sphere, Zadkovich anticipated a “very resolute and focused” efficiency from a “massive club with million-dollar players”.
“They’re a big-spending team and we expect them to bring all their big guns and rock up to Macedonia Park to give us a very stiff test, so we’ll have to be at our best,” he stated.
Originally printed as Melbourne Victory coach Tony Popovic ‘delighted’ for Norway-bound attacker Nick D’Agostino
