Is Harry Kewell's possible return really a Victory? | Thebigtip

Editors Note: This was written before the developments this morning.

If the rumours are to be believed, Harry Kewell will soon be signing for Melbourne Victory, and as a result, playing out his career in Australia. Word has it he will be presented his Victory jersey at the friendly against Glasgow Celtic on July 13. While there is no doubt Kewell is one of Australian Football’s biggest stars, will this move translate to success, not only for the Melbourne Victory, but the A-League?

While there is a lot to like about one of Australia’s most successful football products coming back home, there is a lot to be concerned about as well. Central to the concerns, is whether or not Kewell is healthy enough to have an impact. The last five years of his career have been cruelled by injury, robbing him of speed and agility, and putting an increased amount of importance on recovery after each match. While he was a valuable player for Galatasaray after his Liverpool nightmare, he was still heavily restricted by injury, and wear and tear. What is going to change now?   

There is no doubt Kewell needs to join a club with a strong physio department, and that is something Melbourne Victory can offer him. The next concern is financial; will Kewell offer value for money?

The rumours of Harry Kewell’s return to Australia have been swirling for weeks now, and there is a simple reason as to why. The Kewell camp is negotiating terms for his return. It has been reported that the FFA will contribute to Kewell’s entrance into the A-League, a favour that hardly seems equitable to other A-League clubs? There are also murmurs of Kewell wanting a share of memberships, ticket sales and any merchandise bearing his name! All of a sudden, these terms are thrusting Harry Kewell as bigger than the Melbourne Victory and the A-League! Will this not be destabilising to all the work that the FFA has done in revolutionising football in Australia?

Seeing Harry Kewell come home and play in Australia would be fantastic. Football fans around the country have followed his career at Leeds, Liverpool and Galatasaray, and to be able to go and watch him play live would mean a lot. It must be under the right terms however. At the moment, it seems Kewell is holding the FFA to ransom in order to get the best possible deal, and that is without a guarantee that his body will remain healthy! If Harry really does want to return home, it should be under the terms of the FFA, and the Melbourne Victory, not under the terms of Harry Kewell, especially when he spends more hours with a physio than he does cutting through defenders on the pitch.

Football in Australia is in a healthy state, and seeing big names play in the A-League highlights this. Would we have had Juninho, Dwight Yorke, Robbie Fowler or Romario in the old NSL? I think not! Come home Harry, by all means, but come home because it is a privilege to be here, because only then will it be a privilege to watch you from the terraces.