Homebound Flores won't say adios

9 May 2014-SBS: Philip Micallef

Argentine playmaker Marcos Flores said he was determined to come back to Australia as a new player after he completes his rehabilitation from a season-ending knee injury in his homeland.

Flores suffered a serious injury to his right knee during training in January and he since has been informed by his club Central Coast Mariners that his services will not be required next season.

"I am going back to Argentina to complete the recovery of my knee with good and professional treatment," Flores said.

"Only God knows what the future holds for me.

"But I definitely would not like to say goodbye to Australia ... I would prefer to say 'see you soon'.

"I want to be fit again so I can pay back with football and effort whoever might invest faith in me.

"I can't believe that only one person at the Mariners believes I am not good enough.

"It broke my heart. It is not about money, not about injury. It is about showing faith that I can overcome my first injury in 28 years.

"If everything turns up the way I am wishing, well, the Mariners might see my football and commitment in a different jersey."

Flores leaves for Argentina on Sunday to complete his rehabilitation.

"My recovery is going great, I am at a changing of direction stage and getting in contact with the ball," he explained.

"I couldn't touch the love of my life for three months but today I came close to it so I'm happy.

"I'm feeling good and positive about it. Andrew Nealon (Mariners physio) has been more than happy with the evolution but obviously now I will be finalising my rehab with an intense and consistent treatment over in Argentina."

Flores said he expected to be fit to play again just in time for the A-League's pre-season.

"It has been difficult. I did my knee on 2 January during the last kick of the day at training," he recalled.

"The accident changed my life a bit and it definitely taught me a lot as a person.

"On 15 July it will be six months of rehab and if everything keeps going this way and God protects me ... I guess I will be able to respond to any medical test and begin pre-season.

"So my target is to work really hard these coming weeks to be ready for any opportunities.

"I really believe that if you work hard when no one is watching you that makes the universe conspire to give you another opportunity."

Although Flores is resentful of the Mariners' decision to cut him when he was at the lowest point of his career, he does understand their decision.

"They made their decision to let me go in my condition for a football reason, I might not agree with it but I do respect that," he said.

"I was pushing a lot by dreaming to be back.

"Sometimes in football you have to take it as it comes ... they broke my heart of course but it made me stronger and more determined to overcome my situation."

Flores came to Australia in 2010 and his displays for his first club Adelaide United earned him the Johnny Warren Medal in 2011.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/centr...on-t-say-adios
I think he will end up with Arnie at SFC, but he might be worth the gamble if he's cheap enough, already has a dislike for the mariners so that's a positive.