Mary Fowler issues perfect response to Panthers’ claim Matildas star will move home for Nathan Cleary

Mary Fowler has issued the perfect response to a claim that the Matildas star will give up her European career to move home for her Panthers legend partner Nathan Cleary.

Penrith chief executive Brian Fletcher aired the bold view on Wednesday, drawing widespread condemnation from the Australian football community.

But Fowler wasted little time showing just why the idea should be put to bed with a starring role in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over title-holders Barcelona in the Champions League.

The 21-year-old started the group-stage clash and contributed plenty in attack as the English giants outplayed the two-time defending champions.

Her performance came just days after laying on an assist and scoring her own goal in a 2-0 Women’s Super League victory over Everton.

Fowler has taken great strides at City since the second half of last season, when they came up narrowly short in the title race, and is under contract for another two years.

Set to be the focal point of the Matildas under their next coach, leaving Europe would be a backwards step for one of world football’s rising talents.

Penrith, however, seem to believe it could be possible.

Asked about the threat of Cleary walking to the UK Super League at some point in the future, Fletcher told 7NEWS “it might be the other way round”.

“Mary will come back here, I’d say, to be closer to him,” the CEO said with a straight face on Wednesday.

“He’s signed here, him and Ivan (Cleary’s father and coach), until the end of 2027.

“It’s our job now to get on and extend that as far as we can.”

Fowler supported Cleary and the Panthers from afar, with City’s win over Everton taking place just hours after the NRL grand final on Sunday.

She shared photos from her game alongside a picture of herself wearing a Panthers jersey in the City dressing room.

Cleary is on his way to England this week to spend time with Fowler.

The 26-year-old four-time premiership hero has delayed shoulder surgery to visit his superstar partner in the middle of her busy season.

In addition to City’s domestic and European matches, Fowler will link up with the Matildas for friendlies later this month and again at the end of November and start of December.

Cleary is in desperate need of a shoulder operation but his surgeon is reportedly overseas themselves.

“(Cleary is) heading overseas to see Mary, spend some time with her, and then he’ll get it done,” Ivan told 7NEWS at the club’s presentation night on Tuesday.

Cleary and Fowler have been in the spotlight since their long-distance relationship went public last year.

He said he had learned to stay off social media since his “naive” cross-country tip to support her at a Matildas game in Perth.

“It all just happened and I thought ‘oh, OK’. I had to deal with that but I felt a bit sorry for Mary at the time,” he said of the attention.

“Just with her personal life being in the spotlight, too, and all the added attention she had on her. We’ve spoken about it. It’s just about controlling what we can control and not worrying too much about it.”