Star striker to depart A-League

An “emotional” Jamie Maclaren volition depart the A-League astatine the extremity of Melbourne City’s finals campaign, with India mooted arsenic the prima striker’s apt destination.

City announced connected Tuesday that Maclaren, the A-League’s all-time starring scorer with 154 goals from 232 appearances, was leaving the nine to “pursue an opportunity” extracurricular the A-League.

Sources person suggested that the 30-year-old marksman is headed for the Indian Super League to judge a woody acold much lucrative than what City would person offered him to motion a caller declaration with the Melbourne club.

“It’s a bittersweet infinitesimal for maine to permission the nine that I’ve called location for the past 5½ years,” said Maclaren, who has netted 115 goals successful 163 appearances successful each competitions for City aft joining them successful January 2019 pursuing stints successful Europe with Darmstadt 98 (Germany) and Hibernian (Scotland).

“Driving successful to (the club) contiguous I was a small spot emotional. It’s been a agelong time. This spot feels similar home.

“(There) are a batch of bully memories, (and) a batch of atrocious ones, but that’s portion of being a squad and a nine that has specified precocious standards.”

Four of Maclaren’s 5 A-League Golden Boot awards person travel during his clip with City, wherever helium besides was portion of 3 premiership-winning outfits and the club’s 2021 championship-winning squad, though helium didn’t play successful City’s 3-1 expansive last triumph implicit Sydney FC owed to being successful quarantine pursuing Socceroos commitments successful Asia.

He scored successful City’s 1-0 play triumph implicit Western United to guarantee the nine would again beryllium playing finals football.

However, the unit of captaining City this play has seemed to person affected Maclaren, whose 10-goal haul is good beneath his tallies from caller years.

The erstwhile Perth Glory and Brisbane Roar attacker besides mislaid his Socceroos spot this play aft not being named successful Australia’s squad for the Asian Cup successful January-February.

However, with 2 goals successful his past 3 nine matches, Maclaren has recovered signifier up of City’s A-League elimination last with arch rivals Melbourne Victory connected Sunday astatine AAMI Park.

“It’s going to beryllium a cracking game,” helium said.

“We privation the assemblage to beryllium determination and beryllium up and about.”

City’s manager of shot Michael Petrillo said Maclaren would permission the nine arsenic a “legend”.

“Jamie embodies everything we basal for arsenic a club,” Petrillo said.

“He’s been an outstanding footballer for america and an exceptional relation exemplary for his teammates and young fans.

“On the pitch, his sanction volition stay successful the grounds books forever. Not lone is helium the league’s top ever goalscorer, but helium besides made an tremendous publication to our men’s squad during their astir palmy period.”