Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
As much as she loved the United States, Matildas midfielder Cortnee Vine needed to “feel valued and wanted” again.
Sitting on the bench for her American NWSL club North Carolina Courage was hurting her career and her confidence, and had cost her a place in Australia’s squad for this year;s AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
It left the 28-year-old midfielder in little doubt that she needed to revitalise her career in the A-League women’s competition, so she jumped at the chance to join reigning champions Melbourne City for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
“Coming back to Australia, I feel valued and wanted – that was a big part of wanting to come back here,” Vine said on Tuesday.
One of the heroes of the Matildas’ memorable 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign, Vine left her then A-League club Sydney FC a year later to join the Courage.
“The NWSL is an unbelievable league and competition. The girls are unreal athletes, and amazing football technicians,” she said.
“I felt I grew a lot being around such incredible athletes.”
However, that growth didn’t lead to the game time Vine was searching for, leading to her three-year contract being terminated in June with 12 months remaining on her deal.
“I loved the professionalism there, I had my own apartment, I love America … (but) it came down to what I needed at the time,” she said.
“I had a few tough years over there personally. Going through that it brings me back to figuring out what matters most at the moment.
“I wanted to be around family and friends, and I wasn’t playing over there. I just want to be playing and I want to be enjoying it, especially after the few years that I had there.”
Vine could have returned to Sydney FC, and also had other A-League options, but felt City – who will also again play in the AFC Women’s Champions League – was the best place to relaunch her career at both club and international levels.
“I’m just excited to be part of a team like City that sets the standard in the league. They’re a level about the rest,” she said.
“I’m hoping to get in a place where I feel ready, and hopefully get in contention for the (2027) World Cup.
“It’s something I would love to be a part of.”
Vine said she was “very disappointed” at being overlooked by Matildas coach Joe Montemurro for Asian Cup duty this year, but understood the reasons.
“Joe reached out and we had a chat around it,” she said.
“It was more of a game-time thing. I agreed that I wanted to play more, that I wanted to feel like myself more, but that doesn’t stop the disappointment of not being selected.”
