FC Goa midfielder Robert Pires is confident that the likes of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie will play in the Hero Indian Super League in future.
Former star players including Alessandro Del Piero, David Trezeguet, Nicolas Anelka and Luis Garcia are already playing in the inaugural season of the Indian Super League, and Pires, who is the marquee player and captain of FC Goa, sees no reason why other star players will not play in the ISL in the future.
"Imagine today you have Del Piero, Trezeguet and Robert Pires – who knows in five or six seasons maybe you can have Rooney or van Persie playing in India," Pires told Sky Sports.
The former Arsenal midfielder went on to explain how he ended up moving to India to play in the inaugural season of the ISL.
"When I retired and finished up two years ago - after eight months with Aston Villa - the Indian Super League organisers called me saying they had a big project," he added.
"They asked if I was interested and I thought why not. This is the first season for this league so why not try and help India to try and build this Indian Super League together."
The 40-year-old insists that he did not come out of retirement to play in the inaugural season of the ISL due to financial reasons.
"A lot of people think I've come to play here for the money but it's not only for the money, I have a very good role within this country and with these players."
"I've missed playing football over the last couple of years and playing in India is a great opportunity for me which has also allowed me to discover a new country with new people."
Pires insists that he and the rest of the marquee players were drawn into this project to help develop the overall football scence of the country.
"I know I need to give everything for the team – my football, my experience and my passion. That's what makes it special for me as well as the players, because I am here mainly to help the development of the football here in India which is very important," he added.
