Atletico de Kolkata have signed Portuguese central defender Henrique Sereno Fonseca as a replacement for the injured Pablo Gallardo Zurera. Zurera, who was signed in June along with fellow Spanish player Daniel Mallo Castro a.k.a Dani and Scottish midfielder Stephen Pearson picked up an injury and was ruled out of ISL 3 even before the tournament began.
The Sourav Ganguly owned team have brought in the services of the Portuguese international Fonseca who has represented the Portuguese national team a couple of time and played at top flight European clubs like FC Porto, Real Valladolid and FC Koln in his senior club career.
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Sereno joined Real Valladolid in February 2010 but after Valladolid’s relegation from the top flight in Spain that season, Sereno moved back to his home country and signed for FC Porto on a free transfer. Not having gained a starting berth in the Portuguese giant’s lineup, the defender was deemed surplus to requirements at the club and was loaned to German outfit FC Koln where he featured regularly and made 25 appearances for the club.
However, he could not save Koln from relegation and was again loaned out to Valladolid for the 2012-13 season.
Atletico de Kolkata have made a decent start to the third edition of the Indian Super League. The Champions of the first season have picked up 5 points from their first three games and remain unbeaten in the competition. A hard-fought win against Kerala Blasters FC and draws against Chennayin and Mumbai City FC see them sit fourth in the table.
Atletico have let in only three goals so far in the competition and Sereno’s arrival will bolster the team’s defence greatly. Atletico’s success over the past two season’s in the ISL was hugely dependent on defensive stability and organisation and coach Jose Molina will look to add solidarity in his defence with the Portuguese defender now in his ranks.
On the attacking front, the Kolkata-based side haven’t been as potent after the injury of their marquee player Helder Postiga with Iain Hume yet to go off the blocks this season.
Atletico de Kolkata will face last season’s finalists FC Goa on Sunday, 16 October at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium in Kolkata where he can make his ISL bow with Tiri an injury doubt.
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