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Mohun Bagan Super Giant forward Armando Sadiku is set to join FC Goa, according to Times of India journalist Marcus Mergulhao. The 33-year-old, who moved to India last season, was also a subject of interest from Kerala Blasters FC but has chosen Goa as his next destination.
Sadiku initially signed a two-year deal with the Mariners. After a season where he played a key role in the club winning two trophies, he has now been deemed surplus to requirements, with both Dimitri Petratos and Jason Cummings preferred over him. He will, however, need to mutually terminate his contract with Mohun Bagan to secure his move to FC Goa.
According to the report, the Albanian forward also had discussions with Kerala Blasters head coach Mikael Stahre. The talks reportedly reached an advanced stage before FC Goa and Manolo Marquez came into the picture.
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"Sadiku wants to play for Manolo and that proved to be a massive advantage for Goa. Manolo is comfortable with players who he has seen (play in the league) or trained in the past, so he’s happy with the striker. The transfer makes sense for both since it’s low risk," a Times of India source told them.
Sadiku arrived in the country with a strong reputation, having played for several top-division clubs in Europe. He made 35 appearances across all competitors and scored 11 goals for the Mariners last season.
He has also represented Albania 39 times, netting 12 goals for his country. In 2016, Sadiku notably became the first Albanian player to score in a European Championship when he netted against Romania, which helped his side secure a historic win.
An overview of FC Goa’s transfer window
A third-place finish was a solid first season for Manolo Marquez, who will aim to take his side even further this time. However, they have lost a few key players, including skipper Brandon Fernandes to Mumbai City FC and top-scorer Noah Sadaoui to Kerala Blasters FC.
Replacing these two players will be a major task, but the Gaurs are gradually rebuilding their squad. They have already signed Chennaiyin FC left-back Akash Sangwan and added center-back Muhammad Hammad from Real Kashmir FC.
Additionally, Iker Guarrotxena has rejoined the club after spending half a season with Mumbai City FC, while Rowllin Borges and Mohammad Yasir have made their transfers permanent after spending a season on loan at FC Goa.
Sadiku will be their second foreign addition and replace Carlos Martinez, who scored 10 goals in the ISL last season. The Albanian forward will offer a more dynamic presence up front and will look to pose problems for the opponents with his physicality and movement.
