Bernard Mendy To Don Red And Gold Jersey In I League
[caption id="attachment_3975" align="alignnone" width="640"]
French international Bernard Mendy will be seen in action for East Bengal club in Hero I League[/caption]
Kolkata : On a day when Sony Norde has confirmed his arrival to Kolkata to play for Mohun Bagan , arch rivals East Bengal have striked a deal with Chennaiyin FC star defender Bernard Mendy . The Chennaiyin FC star was in talks with the Kolkata giants for last few days . The Frenchman have given his consent to play for the Red and Golds late last night . The club has already sent the required papers for his visa . According to Santosh Bhattacharya , football secretary of Kingfisher East Bengal club “ We have struck a deal with Mendy . The agreement has been signed accordingly and we have sent the required papers for his visa . He will join us shortly once he gets his visa ”
On being asked the club faced the embarrassment of announcing Ghanaian Bright Lukeman’s name as the fourth foreigner who eventually did not turn up , Mr Bhattacharya was quick to respond ,“ We announced the name of Lukeman only after getting his confirmation . As far as Mendy is concerned , we are confident about his arrival . A final announcement will be made only after he reaches Kolkata . ”
Mr Bhattacharya further added that the French international have been given a contract for the I League only .
Mendy was instrumental in guiding Chennaiyin FC to their first ever ISL trophy late last year. The Frenchman appeared for France from 2004-2006 in four matches .
The addition of the former France international will definitely lend solidity to the East Bengal defence which also have Nigerian Bello Rassaq , Arnab Mondal , Gurwinder Singh and Babu Mondal .
East Bengal thus completed their fourth foreigners quoata with the signing of Mendy who will now join South Korean midfielder Do Dong-hyun, Nigerian striker Ranti Martins and Nigerian defender Bello Rasaq.
Time will say whether the former PSG defender can bring East Bengal glory in I league , which have eluded them for the last 12 years .
