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Sunil Chetri seals Major League Soccer deal

National coach Houghton says the move may inspire more players to play abroad

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It’s official. Sunil Chetri has become the third Indian footballer to join a foreign league after the diminutive striker’s deal with USA’s Major League Soccer (MLS) side Kansas City Wizards was agreed in principle on Wednesday.

Chetri left for the US on Tuesday and an official announcement by the club is expected to be made on Thursday following medical and visa formalities. It is rumoured that the deal would be for three to four years.

The amount of the deal has not been made public yet. The 25-year-old secured a release from Dempo, the current I-League leaders, earlier this month.

He has scored 16 goals for the national team in 35 appearances. After Mohammed Salim (Celtic) and Baichung Bhutia (Bury FC), he is the third Indian to play abroad.

Wizards’ chief coach Peter Vermes said he was happy with Chetri’s technical abilities. “One thing we really like about him is that he’s a crafty player. Technically he is very sharp and has good attacking tendencies,” Vermes said.

India coach Bob Houghton, too, expressed his happiness. He, however, felt that Chetri playing in Europe would have been even better.

“Had he obtained the work permit then he could have been playing in Europe. I would have liked him to play in Europe as the standard there is better,” Houghton said. “But this is a great move for Sunil. I hope it inspires more players to play abroad.”

“We will be monitoring his progress closely as he is a vital member of the national side. I am also surprised why Bhutia didn’t play in Europe as he is highly rated there,” he said.
 

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