Out of favour Socceroos midfielder Massimo Luongo has inked a surprise move to Middlesbrough in England’s second tier in a bid to boost his World Cup selection hopes.
Luongo, a free agent after leaving third-tier Sheffield Wednesday at the end of last season, had been training with Boro’s Championship rivals Reading and appeared set to sign a deal there.
But he will instead join the second-tier club that is also home to fellow Socceroo Riley McGree, on a deal expiring in January.
Still just 29 years old, Luongo hasn’t added to his 43 caps for Australia since 2019, but will be hopeful of a re-call if he can rack up match minutes – and hopefully form a strong combination with McGree.
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The former Spurs junior had spells at Ipswich Town, Swindon Town and Queens Park Rangers before his three-year stint in Sheffield that was hampered by some injuries in 2020/21.
But, he told his new club’s website, “I’m probably the fittest I’ve ever been.”
“It’s brilliant (to have the Aussie connection there).
“Riley’s sort of shown me around a little bit… I hope I can help him out a little bit, being a fellow Aussie.”
Boro currently sit 17th in England’s second tier.
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In other Socceroos news, Mat Ryan’s FC Copenhagen lost 3-0 to Borussia Dortmund in their first Champions League group stage match, with Ryan playing the entire match.
Aaron Mooy came off the bench in Celtic’s 3-0 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League, as did Nikita Rukavytsya in Maccabi Haifa’s 2-0 loss to Benfica in the competition.
Right-back Nathaniel Atkinson had a tough debut in the UEFA Conference League, copping a yellow card and playing the full game in a 4-0 defeat to Istanbul Basaksehir. Fellow Socceroos and Hearts defender Kye Rowles remains injured.
Also in the Conference League, James Holland played the entire match and earned a yellow card in a hard-fought 0-0 draw with Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
