Mumbai City FC were successful with a 1.20-crore-bid for Sunil Chetri, resulting in a pairing of India’s leading striker with French ace Nicolas Anelka, the IS franchise player-manager in Hero ISL 2015.
Chetri, commanding the highest base price of Rs. 80 lakh in the 10-player auction at a city hotel on Friday, was a Free Agent and will be playing the ISL for the first time. He starred in the Bengaluru FC forwardline last season in the I-League.
Midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh got the next best bid, Rs. 1.05 crore against a base price Rs. 27.50 lakh and will represent FC Pune City. He was loaned to the ISL from Bengaluru FC.
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Athletico de Kolkata, the ISL 2014 champion side, signed up defender Rino Anto, bidding Rs. 90 lakh against a base price of Rs 17.5 lakh, the lowest priced among Indian internationals put up for auction. He was loaned by Bengaluru FC.
Goalkeeper Karanjeet Singh was the only player to be sold on par with Chennaiyin FC addng him on the team list at base price of Rs. 60 lakh. Italian Marco Materazzi, player/manager, explained that an Indian as goalkeeper will allow the fielding of six foreingers on the pitch.
“Sometimes when you want something, you have to pay for it. We were looking for a player to lend balance,” said Gaurav Modwell, CEO, FCPC.
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“Shocked and surprised to get him at this price. We thought it will go way above. Apart from being a dear friend, he is a leader and delighted to have him with us,” said Ranbir Kapoor, MCFC Owner on his team's successful bid for Chetri.
AUCTION LIST
Player | Base Price | Bid Amount | New Team |
Jackichand Singh (striker): | 20 lakh | 45 lakh | FC Pune City |
Thoi Singh (midfielder): | 39 lakh | 86 lakh | Chennaiyin FC |
Anas Edathodika (defender): | 40 lakh | 41 lakh | Delhi Dynamos FC |
Eugeneson Lyngdoh (midfielder): | 27.50 lakh | 1.05 crore | FC Pune City |
Sunil Chetri (striker): | 80 lakh | 1.20 crores | Mumbai City FC |
Izumi Arata (midfielder) | 40 lakh | 68 lakh | Athletico de Kolkata |
Robin Singh (striker) | 40 lakh | 51 lakh | Delhi Dynamos FC |
Karanjeet Singh (goalkeeper) | 60 lakh | 60 lakh | Chennaiyin FC |
Rino Anto (defender) | 17.50 lakh | 90 lakh | Athleico de Kolkata |
Seityasen Singh (midfielder) | 20 lakh | 56 lakh | North East United FC |