John Aloisi

[marky boy]

From Sydney Morning Herald this morning:

Greek giants' medical advice leaves Aloisi back where he started
By Michael Cockerill
July 7, 2005

Socceroos striker John Aloisi may yet end up back at Osasuna after his planned move to Panathinaikos finally collapsed yesterday.

Ten days after arriving in Athens to announce he had signed a three-year deal with Panathinaikos, Aloisi is back on the transfer market after the Greek club claimed it had discovered knee problems during the routine medical.

"Following the medical examinations that all future players have to have before signing, Panathinaikos FC have decided not to complete the transfer of Australian player John Aloisi," the club website stated.

Sources have suggested the medical issue is a smokescreen, and Panathinaikos have simply changed their mind and are targeting another player. Either way, Aloisi, 29, is now looking for a club - and indications are he may return to Spain, where Osasuna's decision to allow him to leave was widely condemned by the club's fans.

Aloisi scored for Osasuna after coming off the bench in the Copa Del Rey final (Osasuna lost to Real Betis), and then travelled to Germany to join the Australian squad for last month's Confederations Cup. His four goals for the Socceroos in the opening two games against Germany and Argentina skyrocketed his market value, and Aloisi chose Panathinaikos ahead of rival offers from England (Leicester City, Sunderland and Portsmouth) and France (newly promoted Le Mans).

Osasuna have a new two-year deal on the table and, while the terms were initially not to Aloisi's liking, the familiarity of the environment and his popularity with the fans may convince him to head back to Pamplona. Aloisi is not the only Socceroo facing an uncertain club future, with goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac's planned move to AC Milan still up in the air. Despite reports suggesting Greek international Dimitrios Eleftheropoulos has been signed instead, it is believed Kalac may yet end up at the club - but much will depend on the attitude of his current side, Perugia, who are in administration and face a fire sale of players.

Very interesting - goes to show CL is trying to sign another striker which is welcome news! Trying to get an Aussie contingent for the team as well it seems! I watched the Confed. Cup and Aloisi was in cracking form for us and meant a fit-again Mark Viduka couldn't get a place in the starting line-up. He was top scorer for the Cup only behind Adriano (but he played an extra 2 games). Furthermore, Aloisi's knees seemed fine to me, altough it was only three games, not a season. Still, glad to see CL in the market...