Adelaide has made a major signing for next season with Argentine midfielder Marcos Flores set to join the club on a two-year deal, but defender Michael Marrone’s tenure at the club will finish at the end of the AFC Champions League 2010 Group Stage, after he signed with North Queensland Fury for the next two seasons.
Adelaide has made a major signing for next season with Argentine midfielder Marcos Flores set to join the club on a two-year deal, but defender Michael Marrone’s tenure at the club will finish at the end of the AFC Champions League 2010 Group Stage, after he signed with North Queensland Fury for the next two seasons.
Flores has been high on the Reds’ recruiting list over the past year and after initial contract negotiations broke down in April, the 24-year-old has now committed to joining the club.
Flores’ move to Adelaide is subject to a medical and visa clearance, but Reds coach Aurelio Vidmar is confident of the clearances going through and having the talented attacking midfielder’s services.
“We’re hoping he brings a little bit of quality into our attacking third,” Vidmar said.
“He’s certainly got the ability to do that, and (assistant coach) Carl (Veart) was very impressed with him when he went over and saw him earlier this year.”
“We tried to sign him then, but unfortunately due to his contract situation it was very difficult, but he has been very keen to come here since then, and we’ve stayed in contact so we’re really pleased that it has happened now.”
Adelaide is hopeful of having the South American available for the club’s first match in the group stage of the Asians Champions League next year.
“It’s not easy tracking players but we certainly feel he is that type of playmaker that every club needs,” Vidmar added.
“He can score goals as well so he probably gets half a dozen per season, but he has also got a very good ability to bring players into the game. He has that vision to put the ball in the right spot, and I think he’ll be a handy addition to our team.”
Meanwhile, the Reds offered Marrone a contract extension to stay at the club, but the defender has decided his future lies in Townsville.
“I’d like to sincerely thank Adelaide United for the opportunities they have given me to play in the Hyundai A-League, but I saw heading north to join the Fury as a great chance to progress my career,” Marrone said.
“At my age I think it’s important to be playing first team football consistently and I think I’ll have more of an opportunity to do this in Townsville.”
“But I’m looking forward to making the most of the rest of the season with Adelaide, finishing the season on a high and being part of Adelaide United’s ACL campaign as well.”
