Melbourne City’s 31-year-old Paulo Retre, who most recently played in the Indian Super League in Goa, has joined Wellington Phoenix FC after playing 181 games for Melbourne City and Sydney FC.
He has won two championships and two premierships with Sydney, spanning six seasons. Retre aims to translate his championship pedigree to Wellington and believes he still has the hunger to succeed.
The Phoenix has faced a significant shakeup, losing several key players from last season, including goalkeeper Alex Paulsen, Ben Old, strikers Bozhidar Kraev and Oskar Zawada, and defender Finn Surman.
Giancarlo Italiano is pleased to be reuniting with Paolo, who he knows from his time at Sydney FC.
Italiano believes Paolo will provide an extra layer in the midfield role. He is known for his experience in India and his league win with Sydney.
Italiano’s priority is to ensure a balanced squad, where older players like Kosta Barbarouses and Alex Rufer step up and make it easier for young players to shine.
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