(GSM) – Australia international Jason Culina is set to spend five weeks training with Dutch giants PSV ahead of Australia’s World Cup campaign.
The midfielder had his season cut short in February as his current employers, Gold Coast United, slipped out of the A-League play-offs.
With the World Cup in the summer, the 29-year-old is keen to keep his fitness levels at a premium.
Culina, who spent four successful seasons at the Philips Stadion before heading home to Gold Coast last summer, is set to head back to his former club on 1st April and will remain in Holland until 5th May.
He had offers from Europe, the Middle Eastand Asia during the winter transfer window but admits, after holding talks with national coach Pim Verbeek, it was always his intention to return to PSV.
“The decision to go to PSV was made with Pim’s blessing and we both thought it was a very good idea for me to train at a very high level with a top European club,” said Gold Coast player of the year Culina, who captained Australia in their recent Asian Cup qualifier against Indonesia.
“I had the option of going to Europe in January and to the Middle East or Asia a few weeks ago, but I declined those offers as PSV was always in the back of my mind.
“My decision was made easier by the standard of football in Holland and the quality of the training, which, with all due respect, is higher than what I would find in Asia or the Middle East.
“I know the area, I know everyone there and they know me, so the transition will hardly be felt at all, which allows me to just slip right in and concentrate on doing what I’m there to do.”
