Kerala Blasters announced the departures of Right-Back Amey Ranawade and shot-stopper Nora Fernandes from the club this Saturday. Amey Ranawade is expected to return after a season-long deal with Mohun Bagan, while Nora Fernandes is expected to secure a permanent move to Delhi.
Amey Ranawade – Lobera’s List
Mohun Bagan Super Giants, managed by one of the most successful coaches in Indian Football – the Spaniard Sergio Lobera, faced a setback recently as one of their important Right-Backs, Ashish Rai, suffered an injury that effectively ruled him out from participating in the 25/26 season.
Despite having a packed squad, Mohun Bagan management went on the hunt for a new Right-Back for the 13-game league, and struck a deal with the Blasters for their prized Right-Back Amey Ranawade, a former Mohun Bagan player (during their I-League days), who signed for the club on a 5-year deal at the start of this season. Lobera loves signing players who have worked with him in the past, and Amey’s signing is the latest addition to this sequence, as it’s reported that it was Lobera himself who requested to sign Amey, as he was his preferred choice.
How this deal went through despite the Transfer Window being closed (as reported by MBFT): “As the transfer window was closed, the clubs had to work out a formula to make the deal happen, and MBFT has been told that Bagan, Blasters and Ranawade have agreed on a tri-party agreement, where Amey will sign a 3-month contract at Bagan as Bagan will bear the cost of his entire salary (Approx INR 80 Lakhs) for this period, and then he will go back to Kerala to fulfill his remaining 4 year contract.
Sources close to the development in Kolkata told MBFT that these type of deals require Special Approval from the country’s parent body, and all the parties have asked for the same. It is believed that the deal is at final stages, and once the approval comes, Bagan will arrange a medical test in Kolkata.“
In simple terms, it’s a gentlemen’s agreement between Mohun Bagan, Kerala Blasters and Amey Ranawade where Amey Ranawade will ply his trade for Bagan this season, while Bagan covers his wage bill, and Blasters save money in this time of economic downfall.
In a bit more detail:
- Amey Ranawade terminates his current 5-year deal with the Blasters.
- This makes him a Free Agent, per se.
- His Free Agent status allows him to sign contracts post deadline day.
- This allows Mohun Bagan SG to sign him as a free agent, legally.
- Mohun Bagan signs Amey on a 3-month deal, i.e., till the end of this season.
- Once his contract runs out at the end of the season, Amey once again becomes a free Agent.
- At that point, Amey is expected to sign a new 4-year deal with the Blasters, a symbolic continuation of his 5-year contract. A pure case of what’s called a gentlemen’s agreement.
- Or Blasters could sign a pre-contract already as Amey’s deal is less than 6 months, which enables him to sign a pre-contract legally, and cement his future at the club (KBFC) ensuring his role in the club’s long term plans.
- All in all, this is just a complex maneuver taken to bypass the Transfer Window Restrictions and completely relies on the morals of the parties involved.
- Or in layman’s terms, a glorified loan deal involving mutual trust and terminations.
- At the end of the day, Kerala Blasters saves a significant part of expenditure in terms of wages (~80 lakhs) while Mohun Bagan gets a stopgap replacement for the injured Ashish Rai.
Note: Even after all of these this move is subject to AIFF approval.
But which team is the real winner with this deal? Bagan or Blasters? That’s a question waiting for an answer, which will only arrive at the start of next season.
Read More: Midnight Shock!: Kerala Blasters let go of their promising twin duo – Footy India
Blasters’ Right-Back options right now include Sandeep Singh, who’s currently on a long run of disastrous form (it’s a bit too harsh, but this is the overwhelming fan response), Aiban and Hormipam (Makeshift Right-Back, as used by Catala in the previous season).
Nora Fernandes – Tomasz’s Tug?
Nora Fernandes was expected to be the Blaster’s first-choice goalkeeper this season, especially after his stellar performances in last year’s Super Cup. The Goan in Goal brought a sense of leadership and security in the GK department after quite a long time of uncertainty, and he’s the next player set to join Tomasz Tchorz’s Sporting Club Delhi on a free.
Tomasz had already secured the signings of Aimen and Azhar from Kerala Blasters, primarily with his influence among the players during his time at KB, and this is expected to have been a key factor in Nora’s departure as well. With the signing of Nora, SCD boasts a well-balanced domestic squad to pair with their fairly well-built foreign contingent.
What’s Next for Kerala Blasters?
As of now, Kerala Blasters are NOT expected to sign a replacement for either of these departures and, Sandeep Singh and Sachin Suresh are expected to start for the club in their respective roles, and the fans are expecting a comeback season from both, as any one of them being out of form could translate badly for the team on the points table, which is a major reason of concern for many considering the finalized info on the threat of relegation in the current season is yet to be fully disclosed by AIFF.
Kerala Blasters will face Mohun Bagan Super Giants next in the ISL opener on 14ᵗʰ February at the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.
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