It seems Marco Rojas has worn the Wellington Phoenix shirt for the last time with confirmation he's all but signed with Melbourne Victory. While his agent - dad Rodi - insists nothing has been inked and Victory coach Ernie Merrick has remained tight-lipped, it appears the deal is practically over the line.
Phoenix fans feel a much greater sense of ownership over Rojas than other players as it was they - through the Yellow Fever scholarship - who brought him to Wellington for some training sessions, during which he impressed enough to be offered a playing contract. But, to be fair, his precocious talent wouldn't have gone unnoticed for long even if he hadn't come to the Phoenix by that method.
Loyalty simply doesn't exist in football, apart from in the stands. Fans are the only ones who are truly loyal to their clubs and it's a fact of professional sport that players move for a variety of reasons. Some leave on good terms and are welcomed back when they visit with their new side; others are branded "Judas" and have their hero worship instantaneously transformed into hatred from the moment they sign for another club.
Unfortunately I fear Rojas will fall into the latter category with Phoenix fans. They'd have understood a move to Europe or even Asia if it meant the progression of his fledging career. But by joining another A-League club, he's now responsible for plotting and executing the downfall of his previous employers three times a season.
It's a shame, because Rojas is a lovely kid. Quietly-spoken, shy and keen to avoid the spotlight his outstanding skills have thrust upon him, he doesn't deserve the vitriol he'll now receive from those who used to chant his name.
For what it's worth, I actually think he should have stayed. One suggested reason for his decision is an apparent desire to play in his preferred central midfield playmaker role. I hope it hasn't escaped his attention that the Victory have the best player of this type in the A-League in Carlos Hernandez.
A starting spot amongst a fairly impressive Melbourne roster is certainly no foregone conclusion. And if - as seems likely - he has aspirations further afield - what difference would another season or two at Phoenix have made in ten years time if he turns out to be good enough to ply his trade in a top league?
One thing I heard today from a former national coach was the claim that Phoenix were too slow to offer Rojas a contract extension. He claimed that Rojas's talent was obvious from the moment he first took the field. This is simply untrue - it took time for the youngster to find his feet in the A-League and his four appearances from the bench last season were pretty underwhelming. Following that he was out for nine months as he recovered from ankle surgery.
It wasn't until the December just gone that Rojas really started to impress with a series of performances off the bench which were eventually rewarded with a thoroughly deserved spot in the starting eleven. It was at that point Phoenix started talking with him about life beyond 2010/11. Claims he should have been locked in months beforehand just don't stack up.
Having said that, this is certainly a blow to Wellington Phoenix FC. Immensely talented, attacking, exciting young kiwis don't come along very often and Rojas could have been the face of the club for the next little while. His departure leaves a hole to fill both on the field and in match-day promotion.
Thankfully they've got a long off-season to do it.
