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Fornaroli returns to Scoreagoli ways

3 minute read

Bruno Fornaroli has already formed a friendship with fellow Spanish-speaking attacker Diego Castro at Perth and is eager to begin an on-field connection too.

BRUNO FORNAROLI
BRUNO FORNAROLI  Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

Bruno Fornaroli is eyeing another record A-League goal haul after getting off the mark in his new club colours.

And his coach Tony Popovic believes the Uruguayan could create the league's most feared double act with midfield maestro Diego Castro.

Glory's Spanish-speaking connection was on display in Sunday's 2-1 dismissal of Wellington, when Castro assisted Fornaroli for the Glory's opener, before Fornaroli found Chris Ikonomidis for their second.

Fornaroli's clever strike was his 49th A-League goal, coming almost a year since he last found the net.

"For me it's great, it's so great," he told AAP.

"After all the hard work. I've stayed outside the pitch and watched games. So it's great to come back and score. It gives me confidence."

His goal came a fortnight after Wellington allowed another A-League goalscoring legend, Besart Berisha, to get his career back on track.

While Berisha's 18-month absence from a scoresheet came from trying his luck in Japan, Fornaroli's long break came after a relationship breakdown at Melbourne City.

The Uruguayan was the club's most loved player after storming A-League defences for two seasons, scoring 40 goals as part of a blisteringly attacking City side.

His third season in Australia was ruined by a broken ankle - the result of a nasty tackle in the FFA Cup - and six months out of football.

His fourth season was a travesty.

Despite his place as club captain and striker extraordinaire, Fornaroli was sidelined by coach Warren Joyce for falling short of team-set fitness and culture standards.

The club's highest paid player was silenced, jettisoned, and then released by City after the mid-season transfer window, keeping him out for almost a year.

Confined to training for so long, it's easy to understand Fornaroli's relief - and desire to focus on the future.

"Now is the time to look forward," he said.

"I know I deserve that goal. And I know more are coming soon."

Fornaroli, know as El Tuna or 'the prickly pear', said he had been revitalised by his partnership with Castro.

"He's unbelievable. A different class. Another level," he said.

"I have a good relationship with him outside the field. His family and my family are friends, and the same with Juande.

"This makes it different inside (the pitch) because you know what he thinks.

"I know if we move well together, the goals will come. We can score a lot."

Popovic believes this also.

"I'm sure this will only be the beginning. (When we have) opportunities, the two are usually involved somehow," he said.

"He's getting in the right areas and the chances are being created. I'm sure this will only be the beginning."

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