Chasing a “dream” transfer from K-League club Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma to Germany is Sasa Ognenovski, with reports suggesting interest from an unnamed Bundesliga club in signing the Australian defender.
Although Ognenovski’s contract with the AFC Asian Champions League champions lasts for another two years, he is hopeful of receiving an offer from Germany when the transfer window opens in June.
Having earned nine caps for Australia and having made a notable impact for the Socceroos in their recent 2-1 win against Germany, Ognenovski has “always dreamed of playing in the Bundesliga”.
“In my youth, the jersey I cherished the most was my Bayern Munich replica, and that longing to play for a Bundesliga club has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember,” Ognenovski shared in an interview with The World Game.
“While I’m uncertain of what the future holds,
“I have a well-connected agent (Paul Martin, based in London, who also manages Everton and Socceroos star Tim Cahill) exploring opportunities for me, and there has been some interest that has come up.
“I will likely have more information around the northern summer, and I genuinely think it’s a possibility.”
Having advanced from relative obscurity in the Victorian state league in 2005 to becoming an Asian Champions League winner and a prominent figure for the Socceroos, Ognenovski is pursuing “dream results on two fronts” after recently stating to foxsports.com.au that Australia’s triumph over Germany was “a dream come true”.
“It has been a long wait for me to represent my country, and the sensation of playing in this stadium against Germany and overcoming them on their turf is simply phenomenal,” Ognenovski remarked in a post-match Q&A session following the Socceroos’ victory in Monchengladbach.
“Six or seven years back, the thought of this would have been unimaginable; I was competing in the Victorian league while working full-time and playing part-time. Transitioning from that to defeating Germany tonight is a feeling that is beyond words.”
Confident that Seongnam will not obstruct his potential transfer to Germany, the Australian stated:
“The club understands my sentiments, and I believe they will be accommodating in the future,” he told The World Game.
“I could definitely continue in Korea and remain a dedicated professional, giving my all to the club, but I still feel that even at my age, there’s room for improvement and I wish to challenge myself in a different setting and environment.
“My body is holding up nicely. In the last two years, I’ve played over 100 games, missing only a couple due to injuries, and I feel prepared to meet any demands placed upon me.”
by Buford Balony
