With eight weeks to go, we’re looking at some of this season’s mouth-watering rivalries.
The Hyundai A-League is set to ignite in season eight and there will be plenty of the usual action to keep us on the edge of our seats: local derbies, distance derbies, controversial decisions, but we reckon there might be a few personal and deeply passionate rivalries that are set to catch fire…
Marcos Flores v Adelaide United
When Johnny Warren medallist Marcos Flores announced his desire to return to Australia, it was thought Adelaide United would be in the box seat.
After all, the Argentine always mentioned how much he loved playing for the Reds, but the good feeling between the two evaporated the day he signed with traditional rivals, Melbourne Victory.
Flores, as most professional footballers would, opted to take a better monetary deal and all hell broke loose as the Reds and the player in question engaged in a high-school style game of he said-she said.
His manager put out a statement in the press saying Adelaide let Flores slip through their fingers, and the club responded with a blunt statement that read: “The club-s negotiations and record of contact with Flores were as follows:
“June 2011 A contract offer to Flores of $1 million for 3 years was rejected. Flores demanded to be released to China citing Melbourne Victory was an option in the January transfer window if he was not released.
“April 2012 Whilst still under contract in China, Flores- agents put a proposal to Adelaide United for a $575k package per year to return to Adelaide. The club declined the deal.
“May 2012 Adelaide United made its highest ever offer for a player or coach for Flores to return to Adelaide. This was rejected by Flores- agents.
“June 2012 Flores- agents put another proposal to Adelaide which was beyond the club-s means.”
Since then Adelaide have come out and said they will be fine without the Argentine, but the truth is he could have helped them dramatically, now he will try and help the Victory off the A-League scrapheap as Ange Postecoglou rebuilds a club without Harry Kewell and Carlos Hernandez.
Flores is the ideal replacement, however; quicker, younger, a proven goalscorer and able to bring the best out of those around him.
As a result of this move the Victory v Adelaide derby is set to fire back up after a couple of lacklustre years and you can bet that when Flores returns to Hindmarsh Stadium on December 7, the crowd will let him know he is no longer welcome.
