Indian Super League side FC Pune City have signed former England left-back Nicky Shorey ahead of the start of the second edition of the lucrative football league in October this year.
The former Aston Villa, West Brom, and Reading defender becomes the third overseas signing of the Pune-based ISL side this summer, after the side already snapped up former Everton and Rangers custodian Steve Simonsen as well as Costa Rican striker Yendrick Ruiz.
Known for his pace and for being a set piece specialist, Shorey, who has plied his trade with a host of Premier League clubs, will be giving a major boost to the side that already features Indian stars Jackichand Singh and Eugeneson Lyngdoh.
The 34-year-old was released by Portsmouth only in May this year.
The announcement of his addition to the Pune City squad has excited the club's fans on Twitter.
Orange Army wrote - "Orange Army welcomes @nickyshorey22 to one big family of FC Pune City. #WelcomeShorey #OrangeArmy"
Sandeep Deshpande posted - "Welcome @nickyshorey22 See you soon!! #WelcomeShorey #OrangeArmy #FCPC"
Meanwhile, following the signing of the international trio of Shorey, Simonsen, and Ruiz, the attention now shifts to the marquee player the Pune side will be willing to sign this year.
David Platt, FC Pune coach, however mentions that is difficult to fill one particular slot in the team as a marquee player, and he was willing to class every player as a marquee signing.
"We've got players positions outlined for our international contingent. It's a difficult call to fill a marquee player of a single position. There'd possibly be two or three in every position. But I'd class every player as an important one. I don't think there's one particular one that's important," Platt had said in an interview to Goal.
The ex-Manchester City assistant manager to Roberto Mancini also said whoever becomes the marquee player, shouldn't expect any preferential treatment from him.
"I spoke to a player who wasn't a marquee player, but wanted to be classified as one. I said to him, 'It's irrelevant as it's only done to negotiate a contract. It becomes terminology after that.' Nobody is going to get treated differently by me as a coach.
"All the players deserve the respect of they perform on the training pitch and work hard. The main aim is to ensure they all work hard on the training pitch. If you have a marquee player he has to work to his maximum as it wouldn't seem as the leader," said Platt.
