Delhi boy Sunil Chhetri’s explosive performance for the national football team has got English League One club Leeds United interested.
Sunil Chhetri
India star Sunil Chhetri works out with teammates at club ground. (TOI Photo)
A spurt of strong performances both for club and country and a recommendation from coach Bob Houghton was enough for Leeds to express their interest in the diminutive striker.
"It is flattering, but I am keeping my feet firmly on the ground," Chhetri, told TOI on Saturday.
In the past couple of months, the East Bengal striker has had several rounds of talks with agents in London, bringing him close to following in the footsteps of his idol, hero and strike partner Baichung Bhutia, who had played professional football for a couple of seasons for Bury FC, a second division English club.
At that time, Bhutia made about Rs 70 lakh per year, almost twice the amount of what the highest paid footballer in India, Brazilian Jose Baretto was earning.
Chhetri’s deal has been far from firmed up. "Nothing has been confirmed as yet but yes, I think I am close to getting there," said Chhetri, who has been a rage with the Indian team ever since he won coach Houghton’s confidence.
"Beyond India, not many are aware of our abilities so its imperative we park ourselves wherever we get a chance. We have to start from scratch, prove ourselves and then move forward," continued Chhetri, who overtook Bhutia as India’s highest paid footballer with a Rs 38-lakh annual contract.
The interest from Leeds United follows another offer letter from Estoril Praia, a second division league team from Portugal.
Officials of Estoril Praia watched Chhetri demolish a select Gouveia XI during the Indian team’s tour of Portugal but could not convince India’s highest paid footballer that a place in the Portuguese second division was his passport to European football.
Leeds United, though, is different. The English club is a big name in European football. They enjoyed their best season in 2001 when they made it to the semifinal of the UEFA Champions League until Valencia brought their European adventure to an end. Leeds are now competing in League One after they dropped to the third tier of English football for the first time in their history.
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