ISL 2020/21: FC Goa after Iranian World Cupper Roozbeh Chesmi

Indian Super League (ISL) club FC Goa, who won the ISL Shield last season before bowing out in the semifinals, are reported to be in talks with Iranian defender Roozbeh Chesmi for the upcoming season. Chesmi represented Iran at the 2018 World Cup in Russia but could earn only one cap in the mega event as he got ruled out with injury after that.

The 26-year-old currently plies his trade for Esteghlal FC in the Persian Gulf Pro League. He had also played in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup after the World Cup in 2018 and had also been linked to Real Zaragoza, a La Liga side, before the talks broke down.

FC Goa are undergoing a massive change at the moment. Ever since Head Coach Sergio Lobera left the club after the conclusion of the last season, many players have left the club as well. While winger Mandar Rao Desai and defender Mourtada Fall followed Lobera to Mumbai City FC, Manvir Singh is another player who left the club to join ATK-Mohun Bagan. And, if reports are to be believed, the star midfielders Hugo Boumous and Ahmed Jahouh are preparing for a move to the City Football Group as well.

With a strong defender like Mourtada Fall out of the squad now, FC Goa are left searching for an equally good player who can match Fall’s ability at the back. Hence, Chesmi looks like the perfect fit for that role. Goa will be competing in the AFC Champions League this season as well and that makes the Iranian defender a top priority in their list.

FC Goa need to abide by the AFC Law of fielding only four foreigners as well, one of which has to be from an AFC affiliated nation. So, the Asian defender fulfils that criteria as well.

Chesmi has featured in the last three continental League campaigns too and has made a total of 14 appearances as well. However, bringing him to the club won’t be that easy. FC Goa might need to break the bank in order to convince him to come here but spending a fortune on just one player isn’t logical if that leaves other areas weak. So FC Goa need to act carefully.

Written by : Prasenjit Dey