Melbourne City believe they have unearthed the A-League’s new Diego Castro, signing Athletic Bilbao legend Markel Susaeta.

A versatile attacker with lightning feet, Susaeta was capped by Vicente Del Bosque during Spain’s golden era, in 2012, scoring in a 5-1 win over Panama along with Pedro, David Villa and Sergio Ramos.

Watch every Hyundai A-League game LIVE & On-Demand on KAYO. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

That match came in the midst of his 507-game spell with Bilbao where he scored 56 goals.

City moved for the Spaniard after Marco Rojas rejected their offer last week, with Melbourne Victory hijacking the deal after releasing visa attacker Kristijan Dobras and full back Corey Brown.

However, coach Erick Mombaerts will be thrilled with the outcome as Susaeta, 32, arrives with enormous pedigree and is not playing in Spain merely because he did not want to face his former club.

media_camera Markel Susaeta is a legendary figure at Spanish club Athletic Bilbao.

City tried to sign Susaeta six months ago, before his brief spell with Japanese side Gamba Osaka.

“I’m excited to be joining Melbourne City for the rest of the season and can’t wait to get started in Australia,” Susaeta said.

“I’m hoping I can help the group play the exciting, attacking football the Club plays and achieve the success the group has set out at the start of the season.”

Susaeta made over 60 European appearances for Bilbao, including the 2011-12 Europa League Final, which they lost 3-0 to Atletico Madrid.

An academy product at the club famous for playing only Basque products, Susaeta rejected several rival Spanish La Liga offers because he did not want to face Athletic.

“My dream has always been to be an Athletic ‘one club’ man, but circumstances have not helped,” he said last year.

media_camera Carlos Perez Salvachua will take charge of Melbourne Victory for the first time on Friday.

MORE FOOTBALL NEWS:

Why Victory axed stunned coach Kurz

Duva’s XI: The late bloomer on Socceroos radar

Future Socceroos frozen out at club level

Mark Bosnich picks his Socceroos WCQ squad

Who are the top-10 players in the A-League?

ROUND 15 PREVIEW

ADELAIDE UNITED v MELBOURNE VICTORY

Coopers Stadium, Friday, 7.30pm

TAB Odds: United $2, Draw $3.80, Victory $3.50

DAVUTOVIC’S VERDICT: VICTORY 2-1

Marco Rojas looks set to debut for Melbourne Victory, while Ola Toivonen is touch and go for Friday’s visit to Adelaide United as the club embarks on a new era.

Marco Kurz was due to watch on from the Coopers Stadium terraces after his red card before he was sacked on Tuesday night.

Spaniard Carlos Perez Salvachua begins his caretaker coaching stint and he is bound to make more changes, and perhaps promote more youth after Kurz back in his experienced players for the most part.

The other change will be philosophical, with Salvachua emanating from the Spanish school of attacking, possession-based football, although it will be difficult to make seismic changes in two days.

But expect a reaction from Victory players, who’ve smacked of a frustrated lot for large parts of this season.

media_camera Harrison Delbridge will return from suspension when Melbourne City hosts Newcastle Jets.

MELBOURNE CITY v NEWCASTLE JETS

AAMI Park, Saturday, 7.30pm

TAB Odds: City $1.58, Draw $4.20, Jets $5.50

DAVUTOVIC’S VERDICT: CITY 3-1

Melbourne City’s new signing Markel Susaeta looks set for an impact role against the Newcastle Jets, if his visa is approved in time.

Sharpshooter Jamie Maclaren will relish the arrival of Susaeta, who is capable of playing wide or centrally and provides variety to City’s attack.

Susaeta made his name as an exciting attacker with a penchant for dribbling, and excelling in one-on-one situations.

The Spaniard replaces homesick Uruguayan Javier Cabrera, who didn’t make a huge impact in his seven games (one goal).

City coach Erick Mombaerts often opted for youth ahead of him, including Ramy Najjarine, who impressed and scored in the Olyroos’ draw with Bahrain on Wednesday, and Lachlan Wales.

Defender Harrison Delbridge returns from his stiff suspension, while it could be another chance for the kids to impress, headlined by exciting Stefan Colakovski, who excited in last week’s late cameo.

media_camera Wing-back Josh Risdon is due to return when Western United takes on Central Coast in Geelong.

WESTERN UNITED v CENTRAL COAST

GMHBA Stadium, Sunday, 4pm

TAB odds: United $1.87, Draw $3.50, Mariners $4

DAVUTOVIC’S VERDICT: WESTERN UTD 3-2

Socceroos full back Josh Risdon and ex-Greece international Panagiotis Kone look set to return for Western United as enter a crucial fortnight of the January transfer window.

United had the most room to move entering January, but local rivals Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City have been busier thus far, as United coach Mark Rudan and his staff size up a host of options, including visa attackers.

United had dropped to sixth at one stage last week, before Victory’s late collapse at Central Coast saw Mark Rudan’s side retain fifth spot.

United players enjoyed a four-day break heading into the bye round after the 3-2 loss at Melbourne City, where youthful exuberance helped overturn a three-goal deficit with Besart Berisha and Alessandro Diamanti converting the penalties won by ex-City pair Josh Cavallo and Dylan Pierias.

United is offering free entry to fans, who will be asked to make a donation to the bushfire relief effort.

BRISBANE ROAR v WELLINGTON PHOENIX

Suncorp Stadium, Saturday, 5pm

TAB Odds: Roar $2.80, Draw $3.50, Phoenix $2.40

WESTERN SYDNEY v PERTH GLORY

Bankwest Stadium, Sunday, 6.30pm

TAB Odds: Wanderers $3.30, Draw $3.50, Glory $2.10

A-LEAGUE LADDER

1 Sydney FC 13 11 1 1 30 13 +17 34

2 Melbourne City 13 7 2 4 27 22 +5 23

3 Perth Glory 12 6 3 3 24 12 +12 21

4 Wellington Phoenix 13 6 3 4 20 16 +4 21

5 Western United 13 5 2 6 17 18 −1 17

6 Melbourne Victory 13 4 3 6 17 18 −1 15

-----------------------------------

7 Adelaide United 12 5 0 7 19 21 −2 15

8 Western Sydney Wanderers 13 4 2 7 14 20 −6 14

9 Brisbane Roar 12 3 4 5 14 19 −5 13

10 Central Coast Mariners 12 4 1 7 13 21 −8 13

11 Newcastle Jets 12 2 3 7 12 27 −15 9

W-LEAGUE LADDER

PLD W D L GF GA GD PTS

1 Melbourne City 8 7 1 0 14 3 +11 22

2 Sydney FC 8 6 0 2 16 8 +8 18

3 Western Sydney Wanderers 7 5 1 1 16 7 +9 16

4 Brisbane Roar 8 4 1 3 14 12 +2 13

--------------------------------------

5 Melbourne Victory 7 3 2 2 8 9 −1 11

6 Canberra United 9 3 1 5 10 20 −10 10

7 Newcastle Jets 7 1 1 5 7 12 −5 4

8 Perth Glory 7 0 2 5 6 13 −7 2

9 Adelaide United 7 0 1 6 6 13 −7 1

MELBOURNE CITY v NEWCASTLE JETS

CB Smith Reserve, Saturday, 5pm

TAB Odds: City $1.20, Draw $6, Jets $10

ADELAIDE UNITED v MELBOURNE VICTORY

Marsden Sports Complex, Saturday, 7.30pm

TAB Odds: United $4.25, Draw $4.25, Victory $1.60

Originally published as Basque legend City’s silver lining after Rojas snub