Melbourne City head coach Aurelio Vidmar insisted the future is bright as he tipped “three or four” more players to emerge from the Isuzu UTE A-League club’s academy while making a transfer prediction.
The academy graduates have all made significant contributions in 2024-25 – Caputo and Memeti have both scored a joint team-high five goals this season to go with two goals from 19-year-old Benjamin Mazzeo. Emin Durakovic also made his A-Leagues bow this term, along with Michael Ghossaini.
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It comes as City’s senior academy team – led by Alessandro Diamanti – remain unbeaten in VPL1 this season and on course to be promoted to NPLM VIC, with another crop of exciting youngsters looking to make the step up to the A-Leagues side.
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“The future is bright. We have some really good kids, the one’s who have already been playing and the one’s who came off the bench,” Vidmar told reporters. “They’ve made a massive contribution for us this season.
“There’s another, probably three or four who will potentially join us in pre-season next season.
“For years and years, the academy has done a hell of a lot of work to get these guys to a reasonable level. Then obviously when they come to the first team, the level has to increase.
“They still have a bit of time to develop and to nurture. That’s all part of the process. But exciting times for the club.
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“The way it’s going these days, they can play 10 games and be sold overseas. It’s what’s been happening in the league the last couple of seasons. We’re probably going to see it again over the next month or so.
“I think some of our kids in a years time or two years time, they have the potential to do that as well.
“Excited that we can work with some talented kids but also knowing they have to work extremely hard because the competition in the A-League, you need to be physical, you need to work extremely hard. It’s just a given.
“We’re all excited. Lets see where it goes.”
