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Roar recruit relishing Australian move

3 minute read

Juan Lescano's wife and baby are still on the other side of the world but the Brisbane Roar recruit is itching to start his maiden A-League Men campaign.

Taking the plunge is nothing new for Brisbane Roar recruit Juan Lescano.

The Argentinian was just 13 when he left South America to move to Spain to pursue his dream of a professional football career.

That ambition nearly landed him a contract with English Premier League giants Liverpool as a 17-year-old, only for work permit regulations to scupper a move to Anfield.

Instead Lescano found himself at the youth system of none other than Spanish giants Real Madrid before eventually winding up in Russia via stints in the UAE and Switzerland.

Having spent eight years in Russia, during which time he got married and became a father, Lescano's thirst for adventure has led him to Australia, joining the Roar on a two-year deal in August.

"I have everything there but it was a little bit boring because after eight years it was the same," the 28-year-old told AAP.

"Everything was the same.

"Playing the same stadiums, the same teams, a little bit the same players.

"I'd said to my wife 'maybe we can change a little bit now our life' because I don't have too many years (left) in my career, I have maybe five years, so we decided to try something different.

"Australia is one of the best countries in the world so why not?"

Unfortunately, due to being unable to get a travel exemption, Lescano's wife Anastasiia has remained in Russia with their one-year-old child.

Lescano acknowledges it has been tough to settle in with his young family still on the other side of the world.

"Of course it has been difficult ... I am waiting now for the travel exemption for my wife and my kid," he said.

"We are waiting now but maybe the next month or December they will come."

Lescano revealed Roar coach Warren Moon had originally tried to get him to move to the club over a year ago but the global COVID situation as well as the recent arrival of his child meant he knocked back the offer.

"It was at the beginning of coronavirus, my kid was just born, so I said no," he said.

"But this year he called me again, so I said, 'OK, maybe it's time to go there'."

A rangy striker who stands 188cm tall, Lescano made an instant impression on his debut for the Roar in last month's FFA Cup clash with Peninsula Power.

Coming off the bench, Lescano scored in the 3-0 win.

A niggling injury will keep him out of Sunday's round-of-16 clash with Lions FC, but Lescano says the welcome he's received at the Roar has him eager to hit the ground running when the A-League Men season starts in November.

"I never played in a team who have friendly staff like here. It's like a big family," he said.

"You can talk with the director, with the CEO, with the coach, with the players and they help you a lot.

"I love these things because you have some problems, you can ask for whatever and they help you.

"I feel very good here."

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