Mark Milligan says his status as Melbourne Victory’s new domestic marquee player is yet to be finalised as he considers a contract offer from the club.
Mark Milligan says his status as Melbourne Victory’s new domestic marquee player is yet to be finalised as he considers a contract offer from the club, and has not dismissed the possibility of a move overseas.
Head coach Kevin Muscat told a Victory supporter forum earlier this week that the captain will be elevated to become Australian marquee on his current deal, replacing stalwart Archie Thompson, with a new contract being negotiated.
But the 28-year-old was somewhat circumspect when congratulated on his new status by Goal Australia.
“I don’t think it’s confirmed yet because there’s been nothing agreed as yet,” he said on the red carpet ahead of the Socceroos’ farewell World Cup dinner.
“Obviously there’s been discussions but that’s as far as it’s gone at the moment.”
While becoming Australian marquee would allow Victory to sizeably increase Milligan’s wages in a bid to keep hold of their prized asset, the versatile star’s decision could ultimately be about more than money.
“Absolutely,” he said when asked if the elevation would encourage him to sign an extension.
(But) it doesn’t just have to do with the marquee status, it has to do with my time in Melbourne so far and where I want it to go as well,” he said.
“As I’ve said many times, my family’s happy there, it’s definitely something we’re sitting down and we’re considering at the moment.”
Milligan came agonisingly close to joining Crystal Palace last year, only for the deal to fall through at the last minute.
With Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak captaining the Eagles, that move could have seen Australia’s likely first-choice midfielders go into the World Cup on the back of a successful season in the Premier League.
And Milligan admitted he would still consider trying to forge a career in Europe or the UK if another offer came in.
“I’ve always been ambitious,” he said.
“If something like that was to come along then it’s something else we’ll have to sit down and talk about.
“At the moment I’m focused on what Melbourne’s put in front of me and what’s coming up in the next couple of weeks.”
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