New Socceroos goalkeeper Joe Gauci says re-signing with Adelaide United for three years and working towards his ideal overseas move made more sense than jumping at any early offers.
Fresh off his impressive national team debut against Ecuador last month, the 22-year-old has recommitted to the Reds until the end of the 2025-26 season.
Gauci was adamant getting more senior game time and developing at Adelaide was better for his career than ending up on the bench at a European club.
"The interest just wasn't quite right," he said.
"I'll know when the right door opens and it's the right move in my career.
"I'm not someone that wants to go early and have to come back in a few years because I haven't been getting the game time that I want.
"At the age I'm at now, and with the experience I've had in the last month with the Socceroos, game time for me is extremely important and that's not something I'm going to give up lightly."
Gauci admitted watching other players succeed overseas made him hungry to move but was confident in his decision.
"I want to make that step when I believe I'm ready to go over and be a No.1 (goalkeeper), and really go over with a wealth of experience and I guess knowledge from here in Australia," he said.
"I still feel like I'm making those mistakes and learning each week. I've only played just under 60 games so I'm still relatively young in terms of experience
"I'm ambitious. I want to go over and take my career to the highest level possible and I hope that can happen in the future but I believe right now developing here in Adelaide is key."
The contract means Adelaide should be able to command a transfer fee for Gauci when the right move arrives.
The in-form Reds, who host Western United at Coopers Stadium on Sunday, are keen to lock-in second place in the A-League Men and charge into finals.
"It's been an unbelievable year but this is the crunch time now," Gauci said.
"We're really hoping that we can push on and do something special."
