Pune: Indian Super League franchise FC Pune City Wednesday got a big boost to its academy plans as their product Md. Ashique Kuruniyan will head to La Liga club Villarreal to play for its third team on loan.
This is the first time a home grown Indian academy player has been selected by a top Spanish club to ply his trade in Europe. Excited at the development, FC Pune City CEO Gaurav Modwel said, “This is a testimony of the fact that India is brimming with talent and the right talent needs the right guidance to make the right moves. Ashique has the correct attitude and an appetite for goals.”
“He will only get better with his stint in Spain and I won’t be surprised if he goes on to have a longer spell in Spain beyond the one year loan that we have agreed with Villarreal CF. I would like to thank Villarreal for taking this step and I hope this turns out to be first of many such initiatives that we will take together for the growth of Indian football.”
The Kerala-born youngster has already made the right noises when he was picked for the India U-19 team for the AFC U-19 Championships in Palestine. Prior to that, Ashique represented India for the U-18 side in the FAM-Frenz Asia Champions Trophy where he scored a wonderful solo goal for India that brought him under the spotlight. Primarily a winger, Ashique can play across the forward line.
Ashique said he was keen to make a mark in Spain and come back a better player and play for India and FC Pune City both. “This is a dream come true,” said Ashique.
Press Trust of India
