Reds supporters have reason to be excited about Marcelo Carrusca, especially if Coach John Kosmina’s opinion is anything to go by.
Adelaide United FC supporters have reason to be excited about new signing Marcelo Carrusca and what he will bring to the Reds, especially if Coach John Kosmina-s opinion is anything to go by.
Carrusca was quick to catch the eye of Kosmina and the Reds- football department as they explored possible imports to complement the squad, the 28 year old midfielder fitting the bill of what the United coach was after.
“He-s a quality player. We did a lot of looking…and I had a particular type of player in mind,” Kosmina said.
“I wanted a left sided midfielder, I wanted someone who was good in one on ones and I wanted a bit of elegance – not saying that we don-t have it within the group already, but there are some guys who have got that little bit of extra specialness about them.”
With previous experience playing in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, Copa Libertadores and Copa Sud Americana, as well as representing Argentina at Under 20 level, Carrusca brings a wealth of first class football together with a unique quality that Kosmina believes will benefit and further add to the squad.
“The good thing about a player like Marcelo is that he-s got experience on his side,” Kosmina said.
“He-s played a really high level for a long period of time, so for him to step into a situation, even if he-s a little bit underdone, I think he-ll still be smart enough to have a good impact.”
“He-s a great passer of the ball, he-s good in one on ones…and I wanted someone with that little bit of smoothness and subtlety about him and he-s got it.”
The first of two new Argentineans the Reds have secured, Carrusca arrived in Adelaide last week, successfully passing a medical examination before familiarising himself with his new club.
Speaking to a media gathering with the aid of his agent acting as a translator, Carrusca was a man of few words, hoping to instead let his talent and actions on the field do the talking.
“I-m very happy to be here and my team mates and the club have treated me very well,” Carrusca said.
Now that Carrusca-s move is permanent, the next requirement is to get him up to speed in terms of his fitness to ensure he is in the best possible condition for the AFC Champions League Quarter Final against Bunyodkor. Carrusca will take the Reds- final foreign spot for the ACL Knockout Stage which became vacant after the departure of Francisco Usucar.
Kosmina hinted that Carrusca could play half a game in the Reds- hit out against the SA State Select Team tonight at Burton Park, before upping his training workload and game time in United-s ensuing trial matches against Hyundai A-League opposition.
“We have to overload him (Carrusca) a little bit because he is behind in terms of his general physical condition compared to the other players in the team,” Kosmina said.
“I-d like to start him in Melbourne (against Melbourne Heart) next week but we-ll just see how things pan out.”
