Five years on from his last stint in the A-League, Melbourne Victory recruit Adama Traore says the competition and club have improved and changed significantly.
Traore played for the now-defunct Gold Coast United from 2009-2012, then enjoyed a stellar stint at Victory from 2012 to 2014, before moving overseas.
"Many things have changed since I was here," Traore told reporters on Wednesday.
"The league has grown, the teams are better then when I was here which is good for the league.
"There are better players coming in. It means the league is growing."
Victory has also gone through a significant period of change since Traore was last in the league, with Marco Kurz taking over after Kevin Muscat's near-six-year tenure.
"There are many changes," Traore said.
"The coach and the culture and the system the coach wants to play ... everything is new to us and it's up to us to get into it and try to do the best we can for the team, for the fans and I think in the end everyone will be happy."
Traore is on a one-year deal but said he hoped to stay at the club for "many more years" beyond this season.
The Ivory Coast international returned to the league after stints in Portugal, Switzerland and Turkey.
"Before leaving the country I learned a lot already and playing in Europe for five years, I think 100 per cent it helps you as a human being and as a player of course.
"And I believe coming back again ... you can only learn," Traore said.
"There is always room to improve and I'm 29. I think it is also important for me to listen to people, great people around the club - I believe that I will learn a lot."
Australian Associated Press
