The Central Coast Mariners have made arguably their biggest signing to date, with the news that Argentine Under 20's World Cup winner Patricio Perez will be on board for the next two Hyundai A-League seasons.

The 25-year-old was part of Argentina's squad which was crowned Champion at the 2005 Under 20's World Cup in the Netherlands, playing alongside the likes of Manchester City midfielder Pablo Zabaleta and World player of the Year, Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.

Perez also has also tasted success in both the Under 17's and Under 20's South American Cup's, after representing his country from Under 15's.

Those days were spent jumping on buses to national team training with a childhood pal by the name of Carlos Tevez, who has of course gone on to represent both the Blue and Red sides of Manchester and confirm his place as one of the world's most lethal strikers.

Perez has been learning English on a weekly basis in Buenos Aires, and says he's looking forward to the challenge of the Hyundai A-League.

"Clubs in Portugal and Greece came but I chose Australia because of the seriousness of Graham Arnold when he was in Argentina," said Perez through his agent.

"I found out what the A-League is like, (it's) a major league and is expanding.

"He (Arnold) spoke wonders of Australia as a country and it has aspirations of hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup."