FC Pune City marquee player Adrian Mutu has revealed that he is looking forward to giving his best in the Indian Super League as he aims to make it to his national squad, Romania, in the European Championships in France next year.
Romania need four points from their remaining two Euro qualifiers to seal qualification to finals next year. They are currently second in the Group F of the tournament.
Mutu, who is the joint highest goalscorer for his national team, alongside Gheorghe Hagi -- 35 goals from 77 matches -- is now keen on eyeing the Euros as a motivation to step up his performance in the ISL.
"I recently had a talk with the national team coach [Anghel Iordanescu] and he told me that if I continue playing football even after ISL, then he will consider me for the European Championship next year," Mutu (36) told Abu Dhabi newspaper Sport 360. "It's a huge motivation for me to keep going and I am taking it very seriously."
"I never expected that my campaign to return to the national team would begin in India. After ISL, I don't know where I'll play," the Romanian goalpoacher said. "But I am thinking closer to the future. I hope to stay fit, score some goals and help my team win the title."
Mutu, who has played for Chelsea, Juventus, and Fiorentina in the past, also explained that playing in India will not seem easy by any means, and it will also remain as one of the biggest challenges of his career, and for that, he is giving his best in the training sessions as well.
"This [playing in the ISL] is one of the biggest challenges of my career. By no means will it be easy. I have been training hard, been communicating with the club constantly to understand their philosophy and requirements and I am committed to give everything I have," the four-time Romanian footballer of the year added.
FC Pune City open their campaign in the second edition of the Indian Super League on 5 October against Mumbai City FC at Maharashtra Derby in Pune.
