Melbourne rivals bid for Solorzano
The Age
Friday March 25, 2011
THEY fought each other bitterly on the pitch, with Melbourne Heart and Melbourne Victory earning one win apiece in the Heart's debut season.The shares were spoiled in the third meeting between the two teams, a hard fought draw that will live in the memory as the match in which skipper Kevin Muscat's career effectively ended after he was sent off for a brutal challenge on Heart winger Adrian Zahra.And now it looks as though that rivalry will be continued in the off season, as the two Victorian clubs scrap to sign the same player.Heart made a pitch for Brisbane Roar's out-of-contract Costa Rican striker Jean Carlos Solorzano last week, hoping to lure the Central American away from the title-winning club to become the fulcrum of the A-League new boys' strike force after the retirement of John Aloisi and Gerald Sibon.Now Victory has responded by making a pitch for the same player, whose loan deal with the Roar runs out at the end of the month.Heart chief executive Scott Munn took to cyberspace late on Wednesday night to let Victory know he was aware of its counterbid for the 23-year-old and what he thought of it.He used his Twitter account to write: "Victory just made play for Solorzano. Well, let's have a fight."Brisbane yesterday confirmed it had made an approach for Solorzano, who is in Australia on loan from his Tico club LJ Alajuelense, where Victory's Costa Rican midfielder Carlos Hernandez played before he too came to Australia on a loan deal 3 years go.Victory ultimately paid about $800,000 to buy the stocky midfielder.It was characteristically silent when asked about its intentions over Solorzano, who scored 11 goals in 25 appearances for the title winners.But it is believed that Hernandez made contact with his countryman to sound him out as to whether he was interested in joining the navy blues, and the fact that Hernandez a Costa Rican international who is held in high regard by players in his own country is on Victory's books could have a significant influence on where Solorzano goes if he chooses to leave Brisbane. The chance to play with Hernandez may tip the odds in Victory's favour.It is believed that Heart offered Alajuelense a higher loan fee than Brisbane paid to secure the forward's services this season, but that Victory has come in with an even more attractive financial deal for the Costa Ricans.Victory will have some cash to splash around as it is set to lose another Costa Rican, Marvin Angulo, who is coming to the end of his two-year loan deal from Club Sport Herediano. Victory would have to buy him, as it did Hernandez, and it is not thought likely to do so.The dual champions will also have some room in their salary cap due to the retirement of Muscat, who will become a full-time assistant coach when the first phase of the Asian Champions League campaign is concluded.Munn yesterday was happy to confirm that his club was still interested in Solorzano but said that it would not get into a bidding war with Victory for his services.Meanwhile Heart boss John Van't Schip will use the off season to aggressively recruit key players who can lift the club into the finals at its second attempt.He will leave for Europe next week, basing himself in Amsterdam before he begins to cast his eye over the sort of skilful attacking players who could make a difference. While he is well placed to sign Dutchmen he will also look further afield.
© 2011 The Age
