Argentinian playmaker Marcelo Carrusca has signed with Western Sydney Wanderers for the rest of the 2017-18 A-League season after being granted a release from Melbourne City on Thursday afternoon.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 34-year-old creative midfielder becomes the first signing of new Wanderers coach Josep Gombau, with whom he will be reunited after spending two seasons playing under the Spaniard at Adelaide United.
Carrusca rose to fame in Australia during his five seasons with the Reds, scoring 25 goals from 114 appearances for Adelaide and winning the 2016 A-League grand final at the expense of Western Sydney.
He left Adelaide at the end of last season to join Melbourne City but struggled to establish himself as a first-team regular under the tenure of Warren Joyce, making only three brief appearances. Melbourne City announced Carrusca departed by mutual consent on Thursday before being announced as a Western Sydney Wanderers' player shortly after when the club confirmed his arrival with a brief announcement.
Carrusca was a regular for Argentinian club Estudiantes before joining Galatasaray in Turkey and Mexican giants,Cruz Azul. He is a former Argentinian youth international and teammate of the likes of Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano and Pablo Zabaleta.
He will not take up a visa spot at the Wanderers, having spent five seasons with Adelaide United and becoming an Australian citizen last year, and will be eligible to play in Sunday's away match against Wellington Phoenix. Carrusca's arrival relieves pressure on the Wanderers, whose midfield depth was to be tested this weekend with Alvaro Cejudo injured, Chris Herd suspended and Keanu Baccus away with the Australia Under-23s squad.
His signing means Western Sydney still have one free visa-player spot up their sleeve, which they are likely to use to sign a foreign winger during the January transfer window. It's understood Wanderers are in talks to sign a winger from the Spanish second division.