Recalled by the Australia national team after an 18-month absence Mark Bresciano admits his first six months in the UAE could not have gone any better as he targets silverware with Pro League side Al Nasr.
The 32-year-old has been a revelation in his first season with the Blue Wave, playing an integral role in the club’s title push as they seek a first league crown since 1986.
Bresciano joined Nasr on a two-year deal from Italian giants Lazio back in August in a deal reported to be worth Dh20.5 million. And he has already proven to be an astute acquisition with his eight goals helping to propel the Blue Wave, second in the table, into title contention.
Indeed, the Melbourne-born star has been in such impressive form in Emirates that he has been rewarded with a recall to the Australian national team by boss Holger Osieck for their World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia next week.
“He plays regularly for his club team, he scores regularly … so I decided to bring him and not just listen to talk but see what he can provide on the pitch for us,” aid Osieck.
Bresciano, who spoke recently of his desire to add to his 57 caps for the Socceroos, is delighted with how his time has gone in the UAE so far and is enjoying working under former Internazionale and Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga.
“It’s been a great time so far, I have my family with me and they have settled well after six months in the UAE, in fact they are learning to love the place especially the warm winters,” said Bresciano in a recent interview with the Totally Football Radio Show.
“In terms of the professional side working with Walter Zenga has been great and I am really excited about Luca Toni’s arrival at the club. I am really happy here both on and off the pitch and want to see out my contract with the club.”
His form in recent weeks has been particular impressive, with the highlight his opening goal in Nasr’s 2-0 win over league leaders Al Ain last month as The Boss slipped to their first defeat of the season.
But Bresciano has been quick to pay tribute to his team-mates for his purple patch. “The key is that I am enjoying it at the moment and my good form is an extension of that. The team have been playing really well in the last few months and my goals only come because of the team performing at the top of their game,” he said.
As for the future, a return home to see out his career in Australia’s A-league has been mooted. But for the time being Bresciano is only focusing on helping Nasr end their long wait for title honours.
“Maybe,” he said when asked if he sees himself heading Down Under after Nasr. “Who knows if I will return but at the moment I am concentrating on UAE League and trying to gain some silverware with Al Nasr.”
