Melbourne City are hopeful of keeping wunderkind Daniela Galic for another season as overseas clubs circle the teen sensation.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Young Matildas playmaker Galic, 17, was the A-League Women young player of the season and among City's best players in Saturday's 1-0 grand final loss to Sydney FC.
Coach Dario Vidosic was confident of keeping most of his squad together despite the defeat, but conceded some would be tempted by offers elsewhere.
City are resigned to eventually losing Galic, who was a train-on player with the Matildas in February, to a big overseas club.
"If she stays with us, I'm sure she'll be pushing to be the best player in the league next season," Vidosic said.
"She needs a good off-season. She's developed a lot, which is natural at her age - 17 years old - she's put on size, she's grown. She's learning her body.
"We'll try to focus in on her a little bit in the strength and power, and really develop - because technically she is unbelievable.
"(Saturday) shows that she's ready for the next level as well. So we're very pleased and we hope that she's wearing our colours again next season."
Skipper Rebekah Stott was realistic about Galic's future.
"Dani is incredible," she said.
"She's pretty high up on that list of talented players (I've played with).
"She's got the brains for it. She's got the mentality for it. She's got the technique for it. She's got it all.
"I can speak (highly enough) of that girl. We want to keep her at the club but I think she'll be gone soon.
"She's so talented and she deserves it. She's been amazing this year and she's grown so much."
City lost Kaitlyn Torpey and Lysianne Proulx to the USA's National Women's Soccer League part way through the season.
Vidosic believed only an overseas move was likely to tempt Galic, who turns 18 next month.
"She's great. She's not for other A-League clubs," he said.
"She's for overseas. A talent like that doesn't go from A-League to A-League - she goes to the NWSL or the WSL.
"I don't imagine we'll see her in any way or any other colours in Australia."
Vidosic was also confident his charges could bounce back next season.
"There won't be any drop off. That's guaranteed," he said.
"We'll build on this, we'll use that as as motivation. But regardless, we still achieved a lot this season.
"To go through everything that we went through to be premiers, to qualify for the Asian Champions League next year, to put on a display of football that we did tonight.
"They're showing that girls can play football."
Australian Associated Press
