MVFC Blog

Rumours are doing the rounds that promising Olyroo Kaz Patafta may be making his way to Melbourne, on a one-year loan deal from Portuguese giant Benfica. Source of this rumour is Record, a Lisbon sports daily. Specifically this article, which loosely translated claims that “midfielder Kaz Patafta, one of the promising players of the youth squad will be loaned to Melbourne, Australia for a fee of 50,000 euros.”

It is important to note that, similarly to the Carlos Hernandez rumours from last week, nothing has been confirmed by the Melbourne Victory camp. Unfortunately it also seems to be becoming a habit for the Melbourne Victory to rely on overseas press to break these stories.

18 year-old Patafta has been on the Benfica squad since January last year, after leading the “Joeys” during the 2005 World Championships in Peru. He has played regularly in their youth team and appeared a few times in Benfica’s 1st team, all in friendly matches. It is certainly conceivable, considering he isn’t a 1st team player, that Benfica would want to loan him to another club. As much was suggested in a recent interview with him on the SBS’s The World Game;

<narrator> “And what might happen is a move to another European club, where the prospect of regular 1st team opportunities seem more likely”

<Patafta> “It’s really hard to tell, you never know. Sometimes when you expect one thing, the other thing happens. I think the main thing for me at the moment is I’m still young and it’s just all about improving my football and where I get my opportunities to play at a senior level and keep improving.”

Here’s hoping he gets the chance to improve his football at the Victory, where he undoubtedly will become an important part of a growingly impressive squad.

June 19 update: The Age has confirmed this morning that Melbourne Victory is in negotiations with Patafta and is aiming to sign him in the next 48 hours. Source: Victory aiming to sign junior star

June  19 update 2: Patafta has himself now confirmed he is considering a deal to play at Melbourne Victory. Source: Patafta in line for Victory