Exclusive:'He loves it': Portsmouth handed transfer warning over Adrian Segecic - and why Gunwharf can keep him here
The 22-year-old scored 11 goals in 40 appearances for the Blues in his first season in English football
Pompey can expect transfer interest in Adrian Segecic this summer - but the talented Aussie is settled and loving it on the south coast.
That’s the verdict of Mark Robertson, the long-time footballing mentor of last season’s 11-goal leading scorer and also father of ex-Blues loanee Alex.
Based in Manchester and a regular attendee at Pompey matches, Robertson has helped Segecic adjust to England since the energetic midfielder’s arrival from Sydney FC in June 2025.
Himself a former player with Burnley and Swindon who earned international recognition with Australia, the 49-year-old is convinced the flourishing Pompey youngster is destined for the Premier League.
But Robertson is also adamant that Segecic is currently back in Sydney feeling ‘homesick’ for Gunwharf Quays.
‘I see interest in other players who have nowhere near the same ceiling’
He told The News: ‘I would be surprised if there wasn’t interest in Adrian this summer.
‘I see interest in other players at other clubs who have nowhere near the same ceiling as him or maybe haven’t hit the same standards as him. So I’d be surprised if there wasn’t with Adrian.
‘It’s not really what you hang onto as a player, you don’t sit by your phone waiting for calls to come. Generally with murmurs and all the stuff happening behind the scenes, you might be told about it at the last minute.
‘I think he has the attributes to go all the way to the Premier League, he has some serious attributes. It does help that he’s left-footed because they don’t come by very often - and the fact he can hit the ball so well and so cleanly.
‘If you stepped up a level, you’d have Adrian as an impact player straight away. He’s not a bad player to bring off the bench and put into a scenario where you might be chasing a game, therefore he has value there.
‘If you were to put him into any of the starting XIs of any Championship side you would get the same quality as he showed for Pompey last season.
‘You kind of know what you’re going to get with Adrian. You are going to get a left-footed footballer whose work-rate is through the roof and, ultimately, can give you some nice return on finances because goals are money, they are what every club pays money for.
‘Most kid’s dream is the Premier League and Sega will one day play in the Premier League, I have no doubt about that. And Alexander will one day play in the Premier League, I have no doubt about it, but how you get there is just a pathway.
‘You can get into the Premier League by being promoted with your own club, which is the best way really because you’re part of the framework, you enjoy it. There is no rush for any of these boys to be jumping up and down and looking to try to move.
‘There’s a lot more to come from Adrian, it’s just a case of being in a good environment and, if John and the staff can continue to keep him confident, then anything can come through.’
11 goals in 40 games for Portsmouth
Segecic enjoyed a glorious end to his maiden Fratton Park season by scoring five goals in his final three outings, including a hat-trick at Stoke in April.
That sealed his mantle as the Blues’ leading scorer in 2025-26 with a haul of 11 goals - more than double any of his team-mates.
And Robertson has revealed the 22-year-old is also loving life in Portsmouth away from Fratton Park.
He added: ‘He loves it at Pompey. He was sitting on Bondi Beach the other day and I was on the phone to him - he told me he was homesick!
‘When I asked why he was homesick, he said he wanted to get back to Gunwharf, I swear! He loves it, he has a beautiful spot down there in Gunwharf and he misses it. I think he feels at home.
‘He has a nice little routine, he gets up and goes for his little coffees, he goes for his food and his pasta and he feels really at home.
‘Everything is being geared up for him to be successful. Ashleigh Emberson at the football club looks after all the boys, she’s lovely, she has been like a mother figure to Adrian and helped him to settle around the area.
‘Zesh (Rehman) when he was here took a real shine to Adrian and worked hard with him in terms of his tactical awareness and how he should be playing in the game. The gaffer, Jon Harley, the strength and conditioning guys, even Kev the Kitman, they really make him feel at home.
‘Therefore all he needs to do is come in and give what he gives - which is all his effort. The talent is there and it will always shine through.’
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