Mark Milligan says he finally felt the timing was right to join Baniyas after he confirmed the transfer from Melbourne Victory last month.
The Australian has enjoyed a hugely successful year thus far both domestically and internationally, when he followed the national team’s Asian Cup success with captaining his club side to victory in both the regular A-League season and then its Grand Final. In the latter, Milligan was voted man of the match.
He moved to Baniyas at the third opportunity, with the Abu Dhabi club twice failing previously to lure the player to the UAE.
However, Baniyas activated Milligan’s AUS$1 million (Dh2.7m) release clause in May and then convinced the experienced midfielder to continue his football in the Arabian Gulf League. He signed a two-year deal.
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“It’s a new chapter in my career and I’m very much looking forward to it,” Milligan, 29, told Fox Sports. “It was a long process and a hard decision to make but, with the time I’m at in my career and with my family, I think it’s the right time.
“This team in particular has been after me for quite a long time and this is the third time they’ve attempted to get me across. And it’s been a very successful 12 months for myself in winning the premiership and the championship — I felt the time was right.”
Milligan, who had been a target for Crystal Palace, insists the move to Baniyas does not mean his Australia career is over. He is a staple fixture of the national team, appearing most recently in last month’s 2-1 win in their 2018 World Cup qualifier against Kyrgyzstan.
“Being a part of the Socceroos for the next few years is a big goal of mine and I know that I’m going to have to work extra hard to keep my spot in the squad,” he said. “I really am focused on doing that and it’s now up to me to make sure I keep up my standards to keep myself in the team.”
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