Another tick for GA -
Central Coast Mariners have signed a former teammate of Argentina maestro Lionel Messi to provide an attacking spark in the 2010-2011 A-League season.
Patricio Perez, 25, a childhood friend of Argentina striker Carlos Tevez, twas a member of the Argentina side that won the 2005 Under-20 World Cup in the Netherlands, playing alongside Messi and Manchester City wide man Pablo Zabaleta.
"Clubs in Portugal and Greece came but I chose Australia because of the seriousness of (new Mariners coach) Graham Arnold when he was in Argentina," Perez said through his agent.
"I found out what the A-League is like. (It's) a major league and is expanding.
"(Arnold) spoke wonders of Australia as a country and it has aspirations of hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup."
Arnold said Perez was the attacking midfielder the Mariners needed.
"I've seen Patricio play live on several occasions in Argentina and I'm really impressed with what I've seen, so we're hopeful Patricio will live up to that expectation," Arnold said.
"On the occasions I saw him play, he scored two great goals and created plenty more chances for his strikers.
"He is an attacking midfielder who scores goals, has a great work rate and is also very creative.
"He's had the privilege of playing alongside some of the best players in the world, and he will bring real quality to the Mariners.
"He is only small in stature but is so strong both on and off the ball, has wonderful vision, and will bring plenty of excitement to the fans at Bluetongue Stadium, which is something I have set out to achieve from day one."
Perez has played in the first and second divisions in his homeland, as well as in Chile.
Central Coast Mariners have signed a former teammate of Argentina maestro Lionel Messi to provide an attacking spark in the 2010-2011 A-League season.
Patricio Perez, 25, a childhood friend of Argentina striker Carlos Tevez, twas a member of the Argentina side that won the 2005 Under-20 World Cup in the Netherlands, playing alongside Messi and Manchester City wide man Pablo Zabaleta.
"Clubs in Portugal and Greece came but I chose Australia because of the seriousness of (new Mariners coach) Graham Arnold when he was in Argentina," Perez said through his agent.
"I found out what the A-League is like. (It's) a major league and is expanding.
"(Arnold) spoke wonders of Australia as a country and it has aspirations of hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup."
Arnold said Perez was the attacking midfielder the Mariners needed.
"I've seen Patricio play live on several occasions in Argentina and I'm really impressed with what I've seen, so we're hopeful Patricio will live up to that expectation," Arnold said.
"On the occasions I saw him play, he scored two great goals and created plenty more chances for his strikers.
"He is an attacking midfielder who scores goals, has a great work rate and is also very creative.
"He's had the privilege of playing alongside some of the best players in the world, and he will bring real quality to the Mariners.
"He is only small in stature but is so strong both on and off the ball, has wonderful vision, and will bring plenty of excitement to the fans at Bluetongue Stadium, which is something I have set out to achieve from day one."
Perez has played in the first and second divisions in his homeland, as well as in Chile.