Prior to Perth Glory releasing Bruno Fornaroli by mutual consent on Friday, Melbourne City captain Scott Jamieson had joined former A-Leagues defender Robbie Cornthwaite on the new KEEPUP podcast The Players Pod, to talk about his ex-team-mate.
After rumblings in the media, Perth Glory confirmed the release of their former captain Bruno Fornaroli via a mutual contract termination, and for Melbourne City skipper Scott Jamieson, he had seen this story before.
There had been doubts over Fornaroli’s future in Perth after he was omitted from Ruben Zadkovich’s squad for their 2-1 win over Central Coast Mariners last week – a situation which dominated headlines in the aftermath of Glory’s first win of the 2022-23 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
AFTER THREE SEASONS AND 34 GOALS, FORNAROLI & THE GLORY PART WAYS BY MUTUAL CONSENT
Glory travelled to Central Coast Stadium without Fornaroli, claiming the one-time Socceroo was “out due to injury” when naming the squad for Sunday’s clash with the Mariners. Fornaroli took to Instagram to respond to the club with a comment which was deleted soon after, claiming he was “100% fit and ready” to travel and play with the team.
Before Friday’s big announcement, Fornaroli’s former City team-mate Jamieson joined ex-A-Leagues defender Robbie Cornthwaite on the new KEEPUP podcast The Players Pod, amid growing talk regarding the 35-year-old’s position within the Glory.
In season 2022-23, you can listen to Robbie weekly on his new KEEPUP podcast – The Players Pod, with Robbie Cornthwaite. He chats to Connor Chapman and Scott Jamieson on the second episode. Listen below or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Jamieson pointed to the 2018-19 season at City, where Fornaroli had fallen out of favour under Warren Joyce before he was eventually released.
“It seems that way [tools down]. I don’t know the ins and outs of the Perth Glory situation,” Jamieson told The Players Pod prior to Fornaroli’s departure.
“I can only talk on the situation that happened at City. Warren had standards and I guess those standards were applied to everyone within the team. From the oldest to the youngest players. Everyone has set standards.
“Unfortunately, Bruno didn’t want to meet those standards. For whatever reason, he chose to take on Joyce and it worked out that Bruno had to leave the football club.
“I don’t know what happened at Perth Glory so I can’t comment but it looks pretty similar – something is happening between the coach and player.
“Having played with Ruben and known Ruben pretty well, and know Bruno pretty well. They’re both strong characters.
“… it does see ma bit déjà vu. I’ve seen this Bruno situation.”
Glory’s leading goalscorer in each of the past three A-League Men seasons, Fornaroli joined Perth from City ahead of the 2019-20 season.
The 35-year-old scored 13 goals in back-to-back A-League Men campaigns before finding the back of the net seven times in 2021-22.
Fornaroli made two appearances this term before dropping out of the squad in Round 3.