Joe Montemurro has hailed Chelsea’s new signing, Sam Kerr, delighted that players from his home country are starting to get the recognition he feels they deserve, but he hopes she doesn’t do too well now she’s playing for our ‘nemesis’.
Sam Kerr is expected to make her debut for Chelsea on Sunday against Reading in the FA WSL after signing a two-and-a-half-year deal worth a reported AUS$2m (approx £1m, or £8,000-per-week in football money terms).
Kerr signed for Chelsea from Chicago Red Stars in what was described as a ‘major coup’, with PSG, Barcelona, and Lyon all chasing the striker who won five consecutive Golden Boots in the NWSL and the Australian W-League with Perth Glory.
Kerr is also all-time top scorer in both leagues with 69 and 70 goals respectively.
“The WSL is the best league in Europe,” the 26-year-old said when her signing was announced back in November, although she was unable to move until the transfer window opened on 27 December.
“I want team success and I don’t want it to come easy. I feel Chelsea have been building something special over the years and I want to be a part of that – I want to lift some trophies.”
Now, ahead of her impending debut for Chelsea, Montemurro has been speaking about the player.
“It’s great that we’re starting to get our top players recognised in the top European leagues and at the top clubs,” he said.
“I don’t know how she’s going to go on a day-to-day basis, but let’s hope it is successful … although not too much, because she is playing for the nemesis now.”
Kerr also has 38 goals from 83 caps for Australia, whose decisive qualifiers for the Tokyo Olympics this summer start next month. She is also her country’s captain.
Montemurro and Kerr will go head-to-head on January 19 in a match that could well go a long way to deciding this year’s champions.