ISL 3: Mohamed Sissoko joins FC Pune City as marquee player

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Mohamed Sissoko joins FC Pune City as marquee player. File Picture

Internet Desk : Former Liverpool and Juventus midfielder Mohamed Sissoko, has signed for FC Pune City as their marquee player for the third season of the ISL, subject  after medical at Pune. Sissoko came in as a replacement of Eidur Gudjohnsen, who was  team’s original marquee player,for Hero ISL Season 3 but couldn’t play in the tournament due to an ankle injury.

Sissoko started his early career in 1998 with Auxerre, before moving to FC Valencia in 2003, where he was part of the La Liga-winning squad in 2003-04 under Rafael Benitez. In the summer of 2005, he left Valencia to rejoin his former coach Benitez in Liverpool, and became a part of an FA Cup winners’ in 2006. In 2008, Sissoko was transferred to Juventus, for whom he played 71 matches, before moving to Paris Saint Germain in the year 2011.

“The moment FC Pune City expressed their interest and discussed their plans, I knew this was the challenge I would love to take up,” Sissoko said. “Coach Habas and FC Pune City management showed full confidence in me and I will do everything in my abilities to fight for a place in starting XI for every game because FC Pune City team is so good and compact.”

Pune’s Spanish coach Antonio Habas has worked with Sissoko earlier in his career, at Valencia, and was happy to join hands with him again in Hero ISL.

“Sissoko is a true professional having played for reputed clubs across Europe,” Habas said. “He told us that he is ready to take the field whenever required. He is known to be a great ball winner, a role that will allow him to support our offence for winning back possession. I am excited at the prospect of working with him again, this time for bringing glory to FC Pune City.”