Kolkata: FC Pune City officially confirmed the re -signing of Brazilian midfielder Jonatan Lucca for the upcoming ISL season 2017-18. The midfielder who plays for Israeli club Bnei Sakhnin, had also played for the Indian club in the 2016 edition of the Indian Super League.
The Brazilian, who was excited for his second stint with the club said, “At FC Pune City, without a doubt, I got one of my best playing experiences. The team this season has gathered some quality signings and I am sure donning the Orange & Purple will only add further value to my career. Orange Army, here I come.”
Pune, who like Jamshedpur FC has made it a norm of signing experienced campaigners of the ISL, made Lucca their fifth signing of the current season. The 23 year old will join Marcelinho, Emiliano Alfaro, Marcos Tebar and Rafael Gomez as the overseas players of the Maharashtra based club.
Jonatan, who has played for top European club A.S. Roma, started his career with hometown club Internacional, before being signed by Roma in 2012.
Failing to make any impact there, he was loaned out to Brazilian club Atletico Paranaense, where he moved on a permanent basis in 2015. He has made a total of 25 appearances, scoring three goals for the club.
The midfielder, who joined Pune City in 2016, had also earlier played in the ISL, for FC Goa in the 2015 season, where he helped the club reach the final of the league, making 16 appearances and also scoring 3 goals. Goa however, lost to Chennaiyin FC in the final, to finish as the runners-up.
Pune who finished in the sixth position in the previous ISL, had yesterday only completed the signing of Spanish defender Rafael Lopez Gomez.
Club CEO Gaurav Modwel was quoted as saying, “Lucca is a proven performer and a fan favourite too. He played close to 90 minutes in each of the games last season. Young and dynamic, Jonathan feels at home in Pune and believes he can best express himself as a player at FC Pune City.”
ATK sign Conor Thomas
At the same time defending ISL champions Atletico de Kolkata, who had so far been silent in terms of signing overseas players, meanwhile completed their third Foreign signing of the season.
The club who have already signed Irish forward Robbie Keane and Portugese forward Zequinha, completed the signing of young English midfielder Conor Thomas on Wednesday.
The 23 year old midfielder has played for Swindon Town F.C. in League two (fourth tier of English football league system). He has Made a total of 35 appearances for the club scoring one goal. He was also a part of the Liverpool club and played for the Liverpool reserve team in 2011, in a loan deal from Coventry City.
With the ISL set to begin this November, all 10 teams are desperate to make the best signing to complete their 25 men squad. With so many famous names and top players already signed by different clubs, this ISL will definitely be a season to look-out for.