Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Sydney: AFC Champions League holders Western Sydney Wanderers will defend their continental crown without the services of Brazilian playmaker Vitor Saba, who has left the A-League club ‘by mutual consent’.
In a statement on the Wanderers’ official website CEO John Tsatsimas said: “The club and player have mutually agreed to part ways to allow the player to pursue alternative playing opportunities.
“In his short period of time with us we have won the AFC Champions League of which he was a part of, and we wish him every success in the next stage of his football journey.”
Saba, who joined the Wanderers from Italian Serie B team Brescia on a two-year contract last June, was utilised mainly from the bench during the Knockout Stage of the Wanderers’ victorious ACL campaign, with the goalless draw in the first-leg of the semi-final against FC Seoul marking the only time in six ACL matches when he found a place in the starting 11.
Prior to Saba’s departure, the Asian club champions had been on a significant recruitment drive ahead of the defence of their ACL crown.
In recent weeks the Wanderers have enlisted Japan duo Yojiro Takahagi and Yusuke Tanaka as well as 2010 AFC U-19 Championship Top Scorer Kerem Bulut, and Newcastle Jets defender Sam Gallaway as 2014 AFC Coach of the Year Tony Popovic looks to build ahead of the 2015 AFC Champions League as well as the continuation of the A-League season.
The Wanderers kick-off their 2015 AFC Champions League campaign on February 25 in Japan when they face Kashima Antlers in their opening fixture in Group H, which also features 2014 ACL champions Guangzhou Evergrande and the winner of Playoff 1.
Photo: WSG