Internet Desk: One of I-League’s best footballer is on high demand. Its none other than charismatic Aizawl FC winger and skipper David Lalrinmuana..
According to our sources, Many ISL teams have shown interest in David. But NorthEast United FC and Mumbai City FC are the closest to securing the signature of the diminutive midfielder.
David has played a significant role in Aizawl FC’s impressive football this season winning the most Hero of the match award in the whole of I-League. He also played an astonishing 1092 minutes in I-League this year with 12 first eleven starts.
Meanwhile, eight football players from Goa are yet to sign for the Indian Super League (ISL) with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) season coming to an end on May 29. Interest has been shown to sign most players but pen has not been put to paper as financial negotiations are still on.
FC Goa had signed eight Goan players for the last edition of ISL. Keenan Almeida has been asked to sign again along with Kolkata’s Debabrata Roy while Pratesh Shirodkar, who was on loan from FC Mumbai City to Sporting Clube de Goa has already expressed his intent to join.
Laxmikant Kattimani, Nicolau Fernandes, Mandar Rao Dessai, Romeo Fernandes, Victorino Fernandes, Luis Barreto and Joaquim Abranches and Keenan Almeida were part of the FC Goa team under the stewardship of Brazilian Zico.
FC Goa has met and spoken to Laxmikant Kattimani, Romeo Fernandes and Mandar Rao Desai but the players have decided to opt from signing as the team is still trying to negotiate financial terms. “Romeo Fernandes and Mandar Rao Desai have asked for time as they are looking for other options. They are not happy with the financial package being offered to them by us,” a highly placed FC Goa source told The Navhind Times.
“Mandar Rao Desai has asked for eighty lakhs. Romeo has asked around the same. Kattimani has asked less but FC Goa expect them to scale down. FC Goa has not asked them to climb down drastically but have asked them to look for a fifteen to twenty lakhs climb down.” disclosed our source.
Highly placed sources in FC Pune City have disclosed that negotiations with Mandar have reached a serious stage and in all probabilities he will be seen wearing their colours for the coming ISL.
FC Goa may well lose the services of last year’s star Laxmikant Kattimani, if they are not prepared to agree to his price of around Rs. 50 lakhs. “ FC Goa have recently asked a player to sign them for Rs 15 lakhs and they are trying to use that as a yardstick for all. Unless they start paying the local boys decently, you will see an exodus of players to other clubs,” a player told The Navhind Times on condition of anonymity.
“We are looking for other goalkeepers. Foreign goalkeepers have quoted over a crore of rupees and most good Indian goalkeepers have already promised other teams,” stated our FC Goa source. Luis Barreto was the third FC Goa goalkeeper. Though he did not have the opportunity to play last year, he excelled under the horizontal for East Bengal when he got the chance and is still waiting to hear from FC Goa. “I have not been approached by FC Goa and I am free. Given a chance, I would like to be part of the team again,” Luis Barreto told this paper on the sidelines of the Dempo – Mohammedan match at the Nehru stadium on Wednesday.
Joaquim Abranches and Victorino Fernandes were the two Goan strikers in the FC Goa set up last year. Though both played intermittently, they are yet to be approached by FC Goa. “I have not signed for any club,” both told this paper separately.
Denzil Franco, who played for Atletico de Kolkata and Godwin Franco, who played for Chennaiyin FC last year, are yet to sign for any club. “I have passed my medicals today and have been asked by Chennaiyin to come and join them back. I have an offer from Kerala Blasters but I will be going to Chennaiyin,” Godwin told this paper.
Cavin Lobo – who is not yet forgotten for his thundering goal against FC Goa in the first season is expected to sign for Mumbai City FC soon. “I am recovering from a knee surgery but have given my word to Mumbai FC. I will be a Mumbai player for this season,” Cavin, who played for Kerala Blasters last, said.
Augustine Fernandes who was on loan to Salgaocar FC from Atletico de Kolkata has moved to FC Pune City along with coach Antonio Lopez Habas.
With the auction system and the draft system got rid of, the clubs and players have around two months to make their picks. Players, it appears, have decided their talents need to be respected. FC Goa has no choice but to wait for ISL to remove the rope foisted on them.