India’s football star Sunil Chhetri signs up with Ronaldo’s former club

New Delhi. Indian football’s poster boy Sunil Chhetri he has been signed by Sporting Clube de Portugal, popularly known as Sporting Lisbon for the one year period. De Portugal has given the world players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Figo.

Chhetri will fly to the Iberian country after two weeks. He will play club’s B side initially. Based on his performance, the club will take a call on whether he should be fast-tracked into the main squad.

“From 163rd (India’s FIFA ranking) to playing in the 5th ranked nation in the world, it’s one opportunity I will never forget in my life,” Chhetri said after the deal was made official, here on Thursday.

Chhetri, naturally, is aware that a tough test awaits him in Europe.

“I will have to do a lot of hard work. I will leave no stone unturned, so that I don’t regret later in my life. When I am 40, I don’t want to feel that I could have done better,” he added.

Though the modalities of the deal are yet to be worked out, Chhetri is certainly going to play this season.

“I am excited. I want to see where do I stand…want to grab it with both hands. I can’t let go this opportunity.”

Chhetri is no stranger to Portugal and he has been there a few times on a training-cum-exposure trip as part of the Indian squad.

“The training facilities there are excellent. Now, I feel like a 14-year-old. I will not be Sunil Chhetri there (referring to his popularity in India).”

Though the financial details of the deal are yet to be divulged, the club’s vice president Aureliano Oliveira Neves, while presenting the jersey to Chhetri, said, “Our purpose together with the Indian football federation is to help design the right path for increasing football in India. Signing Chhetri is our first sign of commitment to Indian football.”

According to an official involved with the deal, Chhetri had offers from some other European clubs too but eventually chose the Portuguese club.
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