Mumbai, July 13 (IANS) Indian Super League (ISL) franchise Mumbai City FC on Monday roped in two footballers – Spaniard Juan Aguilera Nunez and Ireland’s Darren O’dea – for the second edition of the competition, starting on October 3.
Nunez, a central midfielder, played for Greek club Platanias FC from 2012 to 2015, scoring 2 goals in 82 appearances.
Defender O’Dea has represented Ireland at the Under-21 and senior level, earning 20 caps since his 2009 debut. He started his career with Irish giants Celtic in the 2006-07 season. Since then, he has won the Scottish Premier League twice, Scottish Cup, and the Scottish League Cup.
Both players were excited to get a new opportunity to further their careers and said they were looking forward to accepting the fresh challenge.
“The ISL has become extremely popular back in Spain and there was a lot of buzz in the football world about Nicolas Anelka joining Mumbai City FC in the inaugural season of the ISL last year. I am really pleased to have joined Mumbai City FC and I am looking forward to a new experience to play in India and for Mumbai,” Nunez said in a statement on Monday.
“It will be a new experience, a new chapter, I’ve spoken to players who played in the ISL last year and it was fantastic,” O’dea said in the release.
“It is another experience and something I’m looking forward to getting started here, I am going to give my 100 percent to ensure the team has a successful campaign in the second season of the ISL. India is a fascinating country and I would like to learn more about the footballing environment in the country,” he added.
Mumbai FC have already named French football star Nicolas Anelka as the marquee player-cum-manager and bought Indian football team’s captain Sunil Chhetri at the ISL auction for Rs.1.20 crore.
Mumbai will begin their ISL campaign against FC Pune City on October 5.
