How does a Brazilian striker who once had a release clause worth $97 million end up in Gosford?
Marco Tulio was unheard of on these shores this time last year but the Central Coast Mariners forward has lit up the A-League Men, scoring nine goals in 26 games.
The Mariners knew they were losing Garang Kuol midway through the season and wanted to plan for his departure, so when Tulio came across the desk of coach Nick Montgomery and assistant Sergio Raimundo they were excited.
At 25, Tulio wasn’t coming to Australia to top up his retirement fund and the fact he was on the books of Sporting Lisbon, had played alongside Robinho, and represented Brazil’s under-17 team, caught their attention.
“We could see after a couple of chats that he was a good guy,” Raimundo told AAP.
“It’s a big step (for a Brazilian) into Europe but for him it was a little bit different.
“When he was at Sporting the president who brought him in had put a €60 million ($A97m) release clause in his contract.
“There were club elections and the president changed and the perspective changed and it was more a change of scenario that didn’t allow him to fulfil his potential.
“Suddenly a player with a €60 million buyout clause wasn’t part of their landscape anymore.”
Sporting’s loss was the Mariners’ gain, the Brazilian making the move to Gosford last September after successfully gaining a release from his contract.
His partnership with Jason Cummings has blossomed and Tulio enters Saturday’s A-League Men semi-final encounter against Adelaide boasting five goals in his last seven games.
If that form continues, the question will be how long the Mariners can keep a hold of him.
“Players between 18 and 23 go through that transition period where they become men,” Raimundo said.
“I think training here has made him grow. He’s at his best, but he can be better.
“He has interest and there’ll be more because he is a wonderful player with a touch that is ridiculous, it’s top level.
“He could easily make it to the Championship in England, which is high but I know he can. (Hopefully) he can stay here and score goals for us.”
