Popović and Bresciano join new clubs

Socceroo players: Tony Popović and Marco Bresciano have left their respective clubs and made a move. Marco Bresciano has left low Serie A side: Parma and signed a 4-year deal with a slightly better Serie A side: Palermo. The deal will see the 26-year old up until the next World Cup unless he wishes to transfer.

Tony Popović left Crystal Palace and despite rumours the 33-year old would return to Australia to play in the A-League, he has signed a lucrative one-year deal with the rich Qatar club Al-Arabi. The deal is worth reportedly $1 million. I would be surprised now to see him come back to the A-League after his contract with Al-Arabi expires.

I do not believe that it should have been expected that Popović would join the A-League but at the same time I'm disappointed that he did not. Maybe part of the reason he has declined to join the A-League is that he has a better chance of re-entering the Socceroos squad if he is playing against better opposition than what the domestic league could provide. In that case, let's hope both these boys are ready when it comes to the Asian Cup next year!