Done deal: East Bengal have Complete a deal of key star player from…..

Indian Super League (ISL) club East Bengal FC has signed Spanish midfielder Victor Vazquez until the end of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 season, the club announced on Wednesday.

“Victor is a product of FC Barcelona’s style of football. He is a player from the generation of Lionel Messi,Gerard Piqué and Cesc Fabregas. His creativity in the midfield will offer many moments of joy and brilliance to the East Bengal supporters.

“He is accustomed to playing on the big stage, having played in the UEFA Champions League before and we believe that he will shine in the ISL too,” East Bengal’s head coach Carles Cuadrat said.

Vázquez rose through the youth ranks at FC Barcelona and was part of the iconic La Masia batch that comprised Messi, Fabregas and Piqué. He was promoted to Barcelona’s first team by Pep Guardiola in 2008 and scored his first goal for FCB’s first team against FC Rubin Kazan in the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League group stage.

In April 2011, Vázquez joined the Belgian Pro League side Club Brugge. Representing Club Brugge in 173 official matches, Vázquez registered 25 goals and 50 assists, guiding them to a Belgian Cup (2014-15) and a Belgian Pro League (2015-16) title.

He was also instrumental in taking Club Brugge to the 2014-15 UEFA Europa League quarter-finals and was voted the Belgian Professional Footballer of the Year.

After leaving Club Brugge, Vázquez has played for several clubs like Mexico’s Cruz Azul, Qatar Star League’s Al-Arabi and Umm Salal SC, Belgian Pro League’s K.A.S. Eupen and Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC and LA Galaxy.

“I am very happy to join Emami East Bengal. I have heard about the illustrious history of the club and the incredible passion of the fans from Coach Carles and Coach Dimas. I am excited to make my mark in Indian football and contribute to this iconic club’s success. Joy East Bengal!”

FC Goa rope in defender Nim Dorjee 

FC Goa on Wednesday announced the acquisition of defender Nim Dorjee Tamang on a short-term contract until the culmination of the ongoing 2023-24 season.

The seasoned defender brings a wealth of experience and skill to the Gaurs as they intensify their pursuit of the top honours in the ISL.

Nim Dorjee’s journey in football began at the prestigious Indian Air Force academy before his talents earned him a spot in the India U-16 national team. He honed his skills further in the youth setup of Shillong Lajong, gradually ascending to the first-team ranks.

His impressive performances saw him captain Lajong in his final season with them before embarking on a career in the ISL. The 28-year-old defender made his mark in the Indian top-flight with stints at FC Pune City and NorthEast United, where he played a pivotal role in guiding the latter to the ISL Cup playoffs during the 2020-21 season.

His tenure at Hyderabad FC that followed, under the tutelage of then-head coach Manolo Marquez, further showcased his defensive prowess, culminating in the team’s triumphant Cup campaign.

Nim’s partnership with Odei Onaindia in Hyderabad FC’s defence was instrumental in the team’s commendable performance in the 2022-23 season, where they finished as runners-up in the race for the ISL Shield. Now, at FC Goa, he reunites with Coach Marquez and Onaindia, aiming to bolster the Gaurs’ title aspirations as they currently sit just two points adrift of the league leaders, Kerala Blasters.

Commenting on the signing, FC Goa’s head coach Manolo Marquez expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Nim Dorjee Tamang is an experienced defender with a proven track record in the ISL. He is aggressive and has a good aerial game. He played three consecutive Cup play-offs in ISL, one with NorthEast and two with Hyderabad being an important player in all of them.

“I’m happy to have him here with us, and I look forward to seeing him contribute positively to our successes,” the tactician continued.

Nim Dorjee Tamang himself expressed his excitement about joining FC Goa, saying, “FC Goa is one of the top teams in India with the right ambitions. It’s wonderful to be here now. I’m also glad to reunite with Coach Manolo and my former teammate Odei, who is one of the best defenders in the league currently.

“Having worked with them in the past, I hope to integrate quickly within the team’s system and continue their momentum in the ISL. Eagerly looking forward to the next game,” he added.

Bengaluru FC sign India international Nikhil Poojary

Indian football team defender Nikhil Poojary has joined Bengaluru FC on a four-year deal from Hyderabad FC, the club revealed on Wednesday.

Poojary joins former Hyderabad FC teammate Chinglensana Singh at Bengaluru FC, who previously signed a long deal with the Blues on Tuesday. He two will also reunite with Halicharan Narzary and Rohit Danu, with the quartet being a part of Hyderabad FC’s ISL-Cup winning squad during the 2021-22 season.

Before moving to Hyderabad FC in 2019, Poojary represented FC Pune City FC in the ISL. Before that, he represented East Bengal FC. The full-back has been a regular player for the national team over the past one year and has established himself as the first choice right-back. He even featured for India in the AFC Asian Cup, starting two of their three matches.

Iker Guarrotxena returns to India

Mumbai City FC on Wednesday announced the signing of Iker Guarrotxena. The Spanish attacker joins the Islanders on a short-term contract that will see him don the sky blue until the end of the 2023-24 season.