Lucrative overseas move awaits for Western United star
Goalscoring sensation Noah Botic feels ready to leave the A-League Men and attempt to prove himself in Europe.
Now it's just a matter of which club the Western United star, who looms as a future Socceroo, chooses to call his new home.
United have long been resigned to losing their sharp shooter at season's end and he played probably his final game on Saturday night, scoring as United drew 1-1 with Melbourne City to lose their semi-final 4-1 on aggregate.
"I feel like I'm ready," Botic, 23, said.
"It's a decision to make to see what league is going to be not a massive step, but a kind of stepping stone.
"I'm not just going to have to strive and want to play in the Premier League or something straight away. Because it's a top league. It's a big step going to Europe, and it's not an easy one.
"So that's another decision on my mind, how well I fit into the league, what their style is like, and am I going to do as well there as I did in here, in the A League?"
Botic's 16th goal of the season was his 27th for United, taking him above Besart Berisha as the club's all-time leading goalscorer.
Coach John Aloisi, who is off-contract himself but hopes to stay on, expects he'll have to replace his star man.
"I wish that he would stay but I don't think he's going to stay," said Aloisi.
"I think that he'll go overseas. I think his mindset is to go overseas.
"And I wish him all the best."
Botic joined German club Hoffenheim as a teenager but struggled before kickstarting his career over four years at United.
He has been linked to Bundesliga club FC St. Pauli, home of Socceroos Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe, while United knocked back a January offer from a second-tier Dutch team.
"Nothing's set in stone, concrete. Still just options floating around," Botic, who is holding out hope of a first Socceroos call-up this month, said.
"Got some interest from certain clubs and it's a decision that I'm still making with my agent and my family. It's not an easy decision.
"Obviously, I would have loved to continue with these boys but that's football. Sometimes you've got to take that next step."
As for Aloisi, when asked if the game was his last, he said: "I hope not. I don't think so.
"There's still a lot to go through and the conversations with the club, so let's just wait and see
On a potential overseas move, Aloisi said: "That's only if an offer comes up, I'll look at it. But at the moment, there's nothing."
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