A Saint for the future of the national team
FC Dallas defender George John’s move to Blackburn Rovers may have fallen through, as the two sides did not agree on personal terms, but another son of Greek expats, George Mells, is about to make it big in English soccer, while also eyeing a spot in the Greek national team.
Mells, a 14-year-old Greek Australian, caught the eye of Chelsea last year with performances with teams in Oz, with the West London giants signing him and taking him to Britain.
The teenager has also shined with the under-14 and under-15 teams of Australia as an attacking midfielder.
Young Mells developed further at the Chelsea academy, but his family was eager to seek out the best for him. As a result, Mells moved to Southampton, which, in the words of the player?s father, George Meletlidis, has got one of the best soccer academies in the UK, complete with a school program for its young stars.
Mells?s young age means he is only at the part-time program of the Saints.
The Australian federation has fully realized the potential of this Greek creative midfielder and included him in the squad for players over his age group for a tournament in Japan in the summer.
Nevertheless Mells is still eligible to play with the Greek national team, and with Fernando Santos, the national coach, having a philosophy in favor of ex-pats, there is good chance Greece will make the most of this talent who may soon don the blue and white jersey.
