One-time Australian prodigy Daniel Arzani came back to haunt his old club Celtic in the Europa League with a stunning strike from outside the box in Ferencvaros 3-1 win in Glasgow on Friday morning AEST.
Arzani joined Celtic on loan from Manchester City as a wonderkid back in 2018, but ruptured his ACL in his first appearance for the Scottish giants.
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That followed the now 27-year-old, then teenager’s eye-catching campaign as an impact sub for the Socceroos at the 2018 World Cup.
He would go on to play just once more in the green and white.
“No, not particularly to be honest. I was 19 years old, I had a cruciate ligament injury on my debut,” he replied when asked on the eve of the match if he had a point to prove.
“For me it’s just a little bit nostalgic. I’m honestly just excited to get out there and play.
“I know the atmosphere is going to be incredible. We’re not just here for the fun of it. I think we can give it a really good shot. I’m just really excited.
“It was a period where I could work on my mental resilience. It was obviously a really tough period for me, I was young, it was my first stint out of Australia, I had a big injury.
“For me, it was where I learned about what kind of coping mechanisms I use to get through tough times. It was an important period in my career.”
Arzani has been somewhat in the football wilderness since.
He rarely played for the five years he was on City’s books as they repeatedly sent him out on loan to various corners of Europe after recovering from the ACL injury.
Arzani joined Ferencvaros last year following spells in the A League with Macarthur and Melbourne Victory.
He even returned to Australia on loan last season with Melbourne City, but rejoined the Budapest-based club at the beginning of this season to reignite his career in Europe.
Arzani’s right-footed curler into the top corner of the net at Celtic Park was a reminder to European clubs of why he was so highly fancied as a youngster.
17-year old strikes for M City on debut | 01:24
Meanwhile, fellow Australian Mo Toure was denied a maiden goal against Premier League opposition as Norwich were thrashed 5-0 by Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Three minutes after coming off the bench in the third round League Cup clash, Toure put the ball in the back of the net after being put through on goal by teammate Musaba, but the 22-year-old was denied by the linesperson’s flag.
It could have been a big moment personally for the striker who has scored the most goals in the Championship since joining the Canaries in February.
He has bagged five goals in eight appearances across all competitions this season, including an opening minute goal in a seven-goal thriller against Middlesborough last weekend.
But Toure was unable to add to his tally against City with Norwich manager Phillipe Clement opting to manage his talisman’s minutes – not bringing him on until the 71st minute – after having started in three matches in the space of 11 days.
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Floyd Samba enjoyed a dream debut as the 17-year-old struck twice in City’s 5-0 thrashing of Norwich to set up a last 16 meeting against Brighton.
Samba was one of 10 changes City manager Enzo Maresca made to the side that won a dramatic derby against Manchester United with 10 men on Sunday and the teenager made his case for more minutes going forward.
Brazilian Allan also struck on his first outing since a £34 million move from Palmeiras, while Rayan Cherki slotted home City’s second in characteristically cool fashion.
Norwich also made nine changes with their focus on trying to achieve promotion from the Championship and were completely outclassed even by City’s second string.
Samba, the son of former Blackburn and QPR defender Chris Samba, made sure his debut was one to remember as he stooped to head in Allan’s cross after Daniel Grimshaw flapped at a cross.
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Ayyoub Bouaddi was given his first Etihad start following a €100 million (£86 million) arrival from Lille and marked it with an assist for Cherki to race clear and steer beyond the onrushing Grimshaw.
Amid City’s major moves for Bouaddi, Enzo Fernandez, Elliott Anderson and Iliman Ndiaye, Allan’s signing was largely overlooked.
But he showed his potential with a fine individual jinking run and finish to fire into the far corner on 48 minutes.
Just moments later Samba made the most of some more slack Norwich defending to curl brilliantly into the far corner.
Another of City’s talented crop of teenagers rounded off the scoring when Ryan McAidoo stroked in late on.
Victory extended Maresca’s perfect start as Pep Guardiola’s successor at City to six consecutive wins across three competitions.
Premier League club’s Crystal Palace and Bournemouth were also in action this morning as they began their Europa League campaigns.
Palace, who won the UEFA Conference League last season, thrashed ten-man Polish club Lech Poznań 4-0 at home.
While Bournemouth celebrated their first ever European night with a 2-1 win in Spain against Real Sociedad.