Rising star Mate Dugandzic has been left out of Melbourne Victory’s squad for the upcoming Asian Champions League, with the youngster refusing to sign a new contract with the club.
According to the club, Dugandzic, who became a regular starter at towards the end of the season and featured in 27 of the club’s 30 matches this season, wasn’t prepared to sign a short-term deal which would have covered the group stages of the Asian Champions League.
The 21-year-old was said to be disinterested in playing in Asia’s premier club competition and it appears his time at the club which gave him his first taste of A-League football is over.
Dugandzic, who spent time in Dinamo Zagreb after playing for VPL side Melbourne Knights as a 16-year-old, has been linked with a move to cross-town rival Melbourne Heart.
He scored five goals in 16 starts this season and was preferred to Archie Thompson and Carlos Hernandez in Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Gold Coast United in the elimination semi-final at Skilled Park.
Brazilian Ricardinho will also sit out the ACL as Melbourne can only field three visa players.
Isaka Cernak, who played for North Queensland Fury this season, and former Perth Glory goalkeeper Tando Velaphi have joined Melbourne for their ACL campaign, which will serve as a farewell for veteran defender Kevin Muscat as well as the likely point of exit Robbie Kruse, who is set for a move to Germany.
Melbourne Victory squad for AFC Champions League
1. Michael Petkovic (GK), 2. Kevin Muscat, 4. Petar Franjic, 5. Surat Sukha, 6. Leigh Broxham, 7. Matthew Kemp, 8. Grant Brebner, 10. Archie Thompson, 11. Marvin Angulo, 12. Roddy Vargas, 13. Diogo Ferreira, 14 Billy Celeski, 15. Tom Pondeljak, 16. Carlos Hernandez, 17. Matthew Foschini, 18. Danny Allsopp, 19. Isaka Cernak, 20. Sebastian Mattei (GK), 21. Robbie Kruse, 23. Adrian Leijer, 24. Luke Pilkington, 25. Luke O’Dea, 26. Nick Ansell, 27. James Jeggo, 30. Tando Velaphi (GK)
