Asian Cup MVP Alex Badolato prepares for new chapter at Melbourne Victory

A whirlwind past week for Alex Badolato is about to get crazier as he begins a fresh start at one of Australia’s biggest clubs.

The talented attacking midfielder turned 20 last month, in what was the most successful period of his young career, helping the Young Socceroos win the U20 Asian Cup.

It was a landmark moment for Australian football, with the green and gold achieving their first title at youth level, and it was made possible through Badolato’s performances as he won Player of the Tournament.

“It’s a pretty surreal feeling,” Badolato admitted after Australia defeated Saudi Arabia in the final, who calmly converted a Panenka penalty during the decisive shootout.

“[I’m] over the moon with how the game went, the whole tournament went, and just trying to savour every moment we can.”

Now, the former Sylvania Heights and Sutherland Sharks player finds himself in the odd situation of returning to Australia, but entering a completely new club in Melbourne Victory, as he joins on loan from the Western Sydney Wanderers until the end of the current campaign, when he is also understood to be off contract.

The deal was completed before Badolato’s heroics in the latter stages of the tournament, in an arrangement that now looks like a master stroke from Victory management.

“We’re very pleased to welcome a player of Alex’s pedigree to the Club,” Victory manager Arthur Diles said.

“Alex has enormous quality and he will add further talent and depth to our midfield and attacking third. We are focused on silverware this season and have no doubt that adding players like Alex, and Lachlan (Jackson) during this window, will help get us one step closer to our goals.”

Badolato is in contention to make his first appearance for the Victory against the travelling Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park on Saturday night.