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The upcoming edition of Indian Super League is just one and a half month away from its grandest kick-off. With the two more teams added to the roster, ISL will be a more expanded tournament this time.
The quality of the tournament and players have undergone a steady growth with the advancement of time. Teams have already reshuffled their squad, moulding their battalion with the affordable ones. With the foreign retention's extremely few, Indian Super League teams opted to recruit players who proved their worth in the biggest stages of world football.
The fourth edition of Indian Super League will witness the service of superstars like Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane, Miku Fedor and others plying their crucial trade for their respective teams. The fact that Indian Super League has attracted the eyes of many sharks of world football is undeniable and the teams had worked well to bring their services at fair rates. While most adopted to commit their future to the development of Indian Football, there were many rejecting the offers, though they were provided with amounts that could create large holes in the pocket of ISL franchises.
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With the help our sources we had during the transfer time, Sportskeeda is tabulating the list of five players who obviously rebuffed the offer to join India's most popular football tournament.
#5 Dare Vrsic
This former Slovenian international, Dare Vrisc received three offers from Indian clubs but chose to Penn down a deal with NK Maribor.
It was understood that not Kerala Blasters and Chennaiyin FC made an offer but also he got an offer from another club whose name wasn't revealed then and was certain that they could go through the deal. But after talks with his former club NK Maribor, the 32-year-old designated to commit his future to them.
#4 Stiliyan Petrov
The 38-year-old former Bulgarian international Stiliyan Petrov received an offer from India. The midfielder who had his best time at Aston Villa and Celtic is well known for his ability to dominate the game from the centre of the pitch and for his consistency.
The player announced his retirement from football in 2013 but returned to the field on 2016 with his former team Aston Villa and had a few games with them during the pre-season, but they weren't willing to provide him with a contract.
Stiliyan revealed that he would consider returning to the field and he also confessed that he received three offers, and one was from India. But the Bulgarian international who featured in more than a century games for Bulgarian National team opted to rebuff the offer as he felt that his experience deserves a much better option.
#3 Cedric Hengbart
A familiar face to the Indian Super League fans, Cedric Hengbart refuted to join Jamshedpur FC as his will to play for Kerala Blasters were shattered by their new management.
The 36-year-old French defender ranks among the best defenders of Indian Super League. Well-known for his flexibility and texture at the back, the former Auxerre player had his three years in Indian Super League. A versatile defender, Cedric Hengbart is known for his ability to do marauding attack and to fulfil his duty at the back.
The player had his first year with Kerala Blasters, while his second was with North East United FC. The player came back to join Kerala Blasters in its third edition and performed a solid display along with Aaron Hughes at the back.
The player will be seriously missed by Kerala Blasters fans as their 'Valyettan' prefer not to play for a team other than Kerala Blasters in the fourth edition.
#2 Rickie Lambert
Former England international and Liverpool ace Rickie Lee Lambert vetoed the options to join Kerala Blasters in the fourth edition.
Rickie was contacted by Kerala Blasters as part of buoying their attack. The midfielder hailing from Kirkby also received offers from teams other than Kerala Blasters. The 35-year-old striker who had his recent venture with Cardiff City took a stern decision not to join Indian Super League, to be more true, not to take a venture outside England. Since Kerala Blasters had an option to sign Berbatov other than him, Rene Meulensteen side had no trouble in deviating from the offer.
Rickie Lambert featured in 11 games for the England National Team and would have been the best signing of Indian Super League, if he was ready to take the Indian offer.
#1 Julio Baptista
The 35-year-old Brazil Confederation Cup winning squad member Julio Baptista was the hottest name of the all heard to have been linked to the Indian Super League.
A player who could ply his trade either as an attacking midfielder or a forward, Julio spent his career playing for European heavyweights like Real Madrid, Arsenal, Roma, Malaga. A player with a robust body and an attitude to pierce past any immovable, steady defences, the player hailing from Sao Paulo was contacted by Kerala Blasters. Just like what Rickie was for them, Julio too was a substitute option for Kerala Blasters.
He did not only reject the offer from Kerala Blasters but also were in heavy negotiations with Bolton Wanders but failed to complete the deal at the end.
