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The Age
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
‘Talent's not enough': Popovic's warning to Irankunda as Bayern Munich exit looms
Nestory Irankunda's impending move to Watford has won a glowing endorsement from Socceroos coach Tony Popovic, who is hopeful it can provide a springboard for the Australian wunderkind to earn his way back into the national team for next year's World Cup. But Popovic's backing comes with a warning, and one that should be ringing in the ears of the 19-year-old as he nears the exit at Bayern Munich after just one year on the club's books: 'Talent's not enough. It's never been enough, and it never will be enough.' Irankunda has reportedly agreed terms on a four-year contract with English Championship club Watford, who are prepared to pay a fee of $5.3 million (€3 million) for a full transfer from Bayern Munich. The five-cap Socceroo will depart having not played in a competitive game for the club, after spending the first part of the 2024-25 season playing for their reserves in Germany's regional leagues and then a mixed six-month stint on loan at Swiss club Grasshoppers. Though it appears to be the end of the road for the former Adelaide United ace at Bayern, he could yet find his way back to the Bundesliga champions if his career takes off in England. The deal is said to include not only a 50 per cent sell-on fee, but a clause that would enable them to buy him back at an agreed price in the future, which means they will remain directly interested in his progress. Watford last played in the Premier League three years ago and have been a mid-table club in the Championship since. Adelaide United, meanwhile, will net 10 per cent of the profit Bayern made on Irankunda, negotiated as part of his transfer to Germany; if the reported figures are accurate, that could equate to about $400,000. 'I don't know if that's definitely done yet, but if it is, wonderful,' Popovic said when asked about the transfer on Tuesday. 'If it's not, hopefully that's something that comes through for Nestory. I'm sure they've done their due diligence in terms of where he would fit in that squad and what plans they have with him as a young player. Hopefully, that will help him grow and take his game to another level. The World Cup's 12 months away, so it's exciting news.'
Sydney Morning Herald
15-07-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Talent's not enough': Popovic's warning to Irankunda as Bayern Munich exit looms
Nestory Irankunda's impending move to Watford has won a glowing endorsement from Socceroos coach Tony Popovic, who is hopeful it can provide a springboard for the Australian wunderkind to earn his way back into the national team for next year's World Cup. But Popovic's backing comes with a warning, and one that should be ringing in the ears of the 19-year-old as he nears the exit at Bayern Munich after just one year on the club's books: 'Talent's not enough. It's never been enough, and it never will be enough.' Irankunda has reportedly agreed terms on a four-year contract with English Championship club Watford, who are prepared to pay a fee of $5.3 million (€3 million) for a full transfer from Bayern Munich. The five-cap Socceroo will depart having not played in a competitive game for the club, after spending the first part of the 2024-25 season playing for their reserves in Germany's regional leagues and then a mixed six-month stint on loan at Swiss club Grasshoppers. Though it appears to be the end of the road for the former Adelaide United ace at Bayern, he could yet find his way back to the Bundesliga champions if his career takes off in England. The deal is said to include not only a 50 per cent sell-on fee, but a clause that would enable them to buy him back at an agreed price in the future, which means they will remain directly interested in his progress. Watford last played in the Premier League three years ago and have been a mid-table club in the Championship since. Adelaide United, meanwhile, will net 10 per cent of the profit Bayern made on Irankunda, negotiated as part of his transfer to Germany; if the reported figures are accurate, that could equate to about $400,000. 'I don't know if that's definitely done yet, but if it is, wonderful,' Popovic said when asked about the transfer on Tuesday. 'If it's not, hopefully that's something that comes through for Nestory. I'm sure they've done their due diligence in terms of where he would fit in that squad and what plans they have with him as a young player. Hopefully, that will help him grow and take his game to another level. The World Cup's 12 months away, so it's exciting news.'
Perth Now
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Behind the soccer manager helping Albo
Anthony Albanese made a calculated diplomatic move when he took a walk along Shanghai's waterfront with a former Socceroo. Kevin Muscat has become something of a celebrity in the coastal Chinese city since January 2024 when he became the manager of Shanghai Port FC. In his first year at the helm, Muscat brought the club its first back-to-back title in the Chinese Super League after Shanghai Port won in 2023 under Javier Pereira. The club is fourth on the table after 16 games in 2025. On Sunday, the Prime Minister made clear what Muscat's success meant for Australia's diplomatic efforts with the global superpower when he called the manager and his team 'ambassadors'. Anthony Albanese walked The Bund waterfront in Shanghai with Kevin Muscat. NewsWire / Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer Credit: News Corp Australia 'It's great to be here with Kevin Muscat, now the manager here of Shanghai Port FC and, indeed, the premiership-winning manager here,' Mr Albanese said. 'One of the things about Australia and China going forward is that we build the people-to-people relationships. 'You do that by the participation of Australians here, whether it be here in football, whether it be the tennis tournament that is going to take place in Chengdu for the Australian Open. 'Whether it be the business relationships that we have here as well. 'This is an important relationship and I've just been chatting with Kevin about the fact that they are ambassadors as well.' Muscat welcomed Mr Albanese to China, lending no-small part of his brand to the six-day diplomatic trip. 'It sounds like you've got a big a few days ahead of you, but also thank you for taking the time to saying hello and taking the time to come in and spending this morning with us in Shanghai,' Muscat said. He then presented Mr Albanese with his own Shanghai Port FC jersey, complete with Mr Albanese's name and a number 10 on the back. Mr Albanese said he would 'be able to wear that around Australia proudly,' but noted that he had played on Parliament House's football team who were 'not very good'. Muscat presented Mr Albanese with a Shanghai Port FC jersey. NewsWire / Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer Credit: News Corp Australia During his time as a professional soccer player, Muscat earnt a reputation as a hardman, with English striker Peter Crouch saying the Australian was the only footballer who genuinely scared him on the pitch. Muscat received 123 yellow cards and 12 red cards in his professional career and in 2013 was voted football's dirtiest ever player by Spanish website El Gol Digital. He represented Australia at a national level 46 times and played eight seasons across four teams in the UK. He returned from the UK and played 113 games for Melbourne Victory before his retirement in 2011. Muscat welcomed Mr Albanese to Shanghai. NewsWire / Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer Credit: News Corp Australia Muscat went on to become a successful coach, winning titles with Melbourne Victory and the Japanese team Yokohama F. Marinos, along with Shanghai Port FC. His success has won him fans in Shanghai; in an interview with The Australian he revealed a portrait sent by a fan that included the message, 'Kevin, with you here, we never fear any team.' Soccer diplomacy could help warm the relationship between the two countries. NewsWire / Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Albanese has used soccer diplomacy to warm the relationship with China as he faces a grilling following a US defence adviser's push for Australia to detail its response if China were to invade Taiwan. Known China hawk and US President Donald Trump's key defence adviser Elbridge Colby has called for countries the US deem to be lagging on defence spending to rapidly increase funding. Coalition MPs questioned Mr Albanese's approach on Monday and said it was indicative of there not being a strong relationship between Mr Albanese and Mr Trump. Mr Albanese also continues to face pressure to try to lock in a face-to-face meeting with Mr Trump.
9 News
13-07-2025
- Business
- 9 News
US 'concerns' rise as Albanese spruiks tourism, trade in China visit
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here BREAKING Plane erupts in 'fireball' after crash in London Australia's iron exports to China are on the table today as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese continues his official visit, while questions continue to swirl around national security and Australia's military partnership with the US. It's day two of Albanese's visit, with a big business expansion top of the list. Albanese joined forces with former Socceroos star and current manager of Chinese club Shanghai Port Kevin Muscat yesterday to make the case for increased tourism to Australia. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his fiance Jodie Haydon arrive in Shanghai, China. (Dominic Lorrimer) "Increasingly, Chinese tourists are spending more than tourists from other destinations," Albanese said. This morning, the focus turns to iron ore, which is Australia's biggest export, and for which China is our biggest buyer. Australian iron ore exports to China topped $120 billion in 2024, according to United Nations figures, while the Australian Strategic Policy Institute said in November 2023 that Australia supplied 61 per cent of China's iron ore imports. Albanese with former Socceroo Kevin Muscat in Shanghai. (Dominic Lorrimer) However, China's focus on emissions reduction could threaten that economic buttress, as Australian ore refinement requires extra energy expenditure. That's at the centre of discussions today, with high-level industry bosses like Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest joining the prime minister and Chinese industry leaders to discuss how Australia can help "greenify" China's steel industry. However, national security and defence questions continue to resound at home, particularly after it emerged recently that the US could push to mandate Australian support over a potential Taiwan conflict as part of a revised AUKUS agreement. Albanese spruiked Australia as a tourist destination. (Dominic Lorrimer) National security expert Michael Shoebridge said Albanese was walking a tightrope on the issue, and that it was clear there was some level of concern in Washington DC about the alliance. "I think our whole defence strategy is we don't fight alone," Shoebridge told Today. "We work with partners and allies to prevent wars, but we'll fight together if a war happens. That's the whole strategy." Albanese has previously pushed back on US demands for an increase in defence spending. Albanese will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping as part of his visit to China this week. federal politics Politics Trade Anthony Albanese Australia national China CONTACT US
AU Financial Review
13-07-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Albanese handed some Chinese luck in US war tensions
Shanghai | Anthony Albanese was all smiles in Shanghai on Sunday as he accepted a red jersey from former Socceroo Kevin Muscat, emblazoned with the number 10 – a symbol of balance in Chinese numerology. It was a fitting gesture from Muscat, who now coaches the Shanghai Port Football Club. A delicate balance is exactly what the prime minister is trying to achieve on his six-day trip to the world's second-largest economy.
