Among the clubs with the most to replace, Brisbane Roar have added two young players to bolster the squad as pre-season begins. Diogo Ferreira and Dimitri Petratos have A-League experience in Melbourne and Sydney and will help fill the voids left by key departed players. Both players are on one-year contracts through the 2013/14 season.
Brisbane Roar sign Diogo Ferreira and Dimitri Petratos
Mike Mulvey adds young Australians to the Roar in his first pre-season as manager in Brisbane.
Ferreira comes to Brisbane after three seasons and fifty-two appearances at Melbourne Victory. A 23-year-old defensive-minded player, Ferreira had been on trial with manager Mike Mulvey following his release from the Victory after the 2012/13 season.
After two years at Sydney FC, Petratos spent the past six months in Malaysia with Super League champions Kelantan. Having scored five times in thirty Sydney appearances, Petratos added three goals in six AFC Cup starts between February and May. In 2013 pre-season, the 20-year-old attacker scored in five different games but did not find the regular season as accommodating.
Petratos joins Liam Miller as an attacking option added this offseason, moves Mulvey will hope offset the departures of Ben Halloran (Fortuna Düsseldorf) and Mitch Nichols (Melbourne Victory). The Roar list Ferreira as a utility player, likely meaning they will use him where necessary between right back and defensive midfield. Massimo Murdocca’s exit to Melbourne Heart after eight years in Brisbane certainly leaves room for competition in central midfield, though Ferreira might be more likely to be used as a spot player than a regular starter at one position.
In the club’s press release, it was also noted that 22-year-old Steven Luštica’s loan from Hajduk Split has ended and that he will not return to Brisbane after his 10-game run last season.
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