Tell me this, what Aussie A League clubs come to NZ recruiting talent from the NZPL? I think it is a ludicrous assumption that just because no other A League club has signed someone, that they don't warrant being signed by us. Manny is a striking example. Instead of making assumptions about why a person chooses to stay at ACFC rather than seek to play for an Australian A League side, compare it to normal employment. I could make much more money and do a brilliant job elsewhere in NZ or even more if I moved back to Australia. Why haven't I done that? I like where I am, I enjoy the people I work with, my friends and family are here, I like the weather, my girlfriend lives here and can't move because of her job, etc etc I've even been asked to go elsewhere, but stayed..... so its not a case of not being good enough, or not wanted - I simply choose not to go. Maybe the same applies to football players too?
In this case, considering he has gone to trial and be a pro footballer, we can probably say that's not the case or would have said no thanks and stayed in Auckland, yes? Also Australia is very similar to NZ except with more dangerous things so I don't really think going to Australia is going to a completely different country ala India or Korea or Egypt, especially considering the guy is Spanish and the two countries would probably seem very similar to him.