Adelaide United coach John Kosmina believes the AFC Champions League can act as a bargaining chip when attempting to attract overseas players.
Adelaide United coach John Kosmina believes the AFC Champions League can act as a bargaining chip when attempting to attract overseas players.
United’s successful history in the illustrious tournament has seen the club’s brand increase in the lucrative Asian market.
A 2008 final appearance could yet be trumped with the Reds into the final eight of this year’s continental competition.
It’s the third time in four attempts Adelaide have advanced past the group stage into the knockout rounds.
While Adelaide won’t compete in the ACL next season unless it claim this year’s title, Kosmina believes the presence of Australian teams in the competition benefits the Hyundai A-League in attracting quality foreign players to the country.
“(The ACL) probably does give us more bargaining power,” Kosmina said regarding transfer dealings.
“A lot of players in Europe and South America look at Asia as being a fairly lucrative market.
“Australia has become a good stepping stone for players to get into markets like Japan, China and South Korea.”
Kosmina pointed to the example of former Reds cult hero Marcos Flores as one A-League graduate who cashed in on the world’s largest continent.
Flores joined Chinese Super League club Henan Jianye in 2011 for a multi-million dollar deal before returning to Australia to ply his trade with Melbourne Victory this year.
“Look at what happened with Marcos, he wasn’t so much as in oblivion in Argentina, but he came out here had one good season and ended up making a lot of money in China,” Kosmina said.
“Players do look at that opportunity, they are professional players, and have got to make a good living while they can.”
Adelaide has already thrown the ACL lure onto the transfer table this season, signing Argentinean duo Marcelo Carrusca and Jeronimo Morales.
The South American pair come to Adelaide bearing respectable resumes with Carrusca having enjoyed stints with Turkish Giants Galatasaray and premier Argentine club Estudiantes, while Morales is a River Plate youth product who had a spell with English Championship side Barnsley.
Carrusca spoke to the media via a translator for the first time since his arrival in Adelaide on Wednesday and admitted the prospect of ACL football was a big factor in signing for the Reds.
“The ACL was one of the reasons I decided to come to Adelaide,” Carrusca said.
“The league here in Australia is getting better and better and I expect to have a very good season, both in the ACL tournament and A-League.”
Carrusca humbly refused to discuss his qualities, suggesting judgement was best left to the Adelaide supporters and media once he has taken to the field.
