Sunil Chetri will play in Benfica!

If he passes the pre-season training, Indian star Sunil Chetri will play for Benefica in the highly competitive Portuguese league. The best part is that, the contract has already been signed between the two parties without any trial. If Chetri pleases the coach with his footballing skills, we could see him playing for the Benfica. Else the deal is cancelled and he will be released on lien before the Portugal league starts and Benfica would not even ask for any compensation.

Apart from Benfica, Chetri has offers from Churchill, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. Churchill Alemao is desperate to grab him after loosing out Odafa to Bagan. However, it seems, Bagan are ahead in the race. Their officials are currently vacationing in London where, incidentally Yogesh Joshi, Sunil’s agent, is residing.

Sunil’s  Chetri will be looking to play abroad at any cost and will join Indian club only if it does not happen. Yogesh had talks with many European clubs. All of them want Sunil to come for trial. But Sunil is not ready to go for month-long trials in Europe. The Benfica deal came his way because of Nuno Gomes (not the footballer) who owns the sports management company that arranged for India’s practice in Portugal for past 3 years. He also helped Baichung and Co. to get practice time in the Benfica stadium. He has good connections with Benfica management and  is good friends with Yogesh too.  Thats how the talks started.

Lets hope for the best and pray that Sunil gets to fulfill his dream.

Translated from report by Dulal De in Sangbad Pratidin

http://www.sangbadpratidin.in/pratidin/sports.php

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