Anelka said in a statement, "I am glad to be back in Mumbai City FC again. I really enjoyed my time there last season and I can't wait to see Mumbai, India and all you fans again. See you very soon. Let's football."
Despite receiving plenty of criticism for his lacklustre performance in the opening season of the Indian Super League, Mumbai City FC officially announced Nicolas Anelka as their marquee player for the upcoming season.
The Frenchman, who has played for top clubs in Europe like Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Liverpool and Juventus among others, was largely ineffective in an injury-plagued last season that saw Mumbai FC finished second-last. He managed to score two goals and made two assists.
Anelka said in a statement, "I am glad to be back in Mumbai City FC again. I really enjoyed my time there last season and I can't wait to see Mumbai, India and all you fans again. See you very soon. Let's football."
Indranil Das Blah, CEO of Mumbai City FC told dna that though he was criticised by the public last year, the management was content with him.
"He was brilliant for us last year and added value for us both on and off the field. Unfortunately, injuries during the season held him back at crucial times. He was tremendous when he did play. The other factor in retaining Anelka was continuity. He has spent a season in India and gotten to know the conditions. That experience is invaluable to us and we are hoping his last year's experience to help us do better this year," Blah said.
Signing Anelka also means the confirmed exit of last year's marquee player Freddie Ljungberg from the city franchise. The Swede too was injured (calf strain) for most of the season.
Mumbai City FC finished second-last place last season and Blah said that it was because of Anelka's injury that they were unable to climb up. "While it was not the only reason (Anelka's injury), having him not play in half our games definitely affected our chances of qualifying for the semifinals. Having a player of the calibre of Nicolas out of action would impact any team and we definitely were hurt with his injury, along with numerous other injuries to the likes of Andre Moritz and Freddie Ljungberg."
It was earlier reported that Uruguayan Diego Forlan and Argentine Esteban Cambiasso were being considered in talks with the club to be signed as marquee players, but Blah rubbished it as rumours.
"Our only target for marquee player for this season was Anelka. We didn't enter into any negotiations with Forlan, Cambiasso or any other player to have them as our marquee player," he told dna.
Anelka last season
Matches: 7
Goals: 2
Assists: 0
Shots: 13
FC Goa rope in Lucio
Lucimar Ferreira da Silva, popularly known as Lucio, has signed up with FC Goa as a marquee player for the second Indian Super League (ISL). "Lucio who won the World Cup for Brazil in 2002 and was part of 2006 and 2010 finals has been signed for FC Goa as he was strongly recommended by Zico," stated FC Goa co-owner Shrinivas Dempo.
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