Former Spain World Cupper and Real Madrid veteran fullback Michel Salgado is the latest marquee player to join the Premier Futsal in India, scheduled to start next month. Salgado, 40, joins Paul Scholes, Deco and Falcao, referred to as the 'Pele of Futsal', as the other big name in the competition.
Known for his aggressive style of play and indulging in crunching tackles, Salgado, played for the Los Blancos between 1999 and 2009, appearing in a total of 376 games. He won four La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions League crowns with Real Madrid.
Salgado won a total of 53 caps for the Spain international team. He made his debut in 1998 and played his last international game in 2006. The 40-year-old fullback may have missed out on playing for the team in Euro 2004 and the FIFA World Cup 2002 owing to injuries, but he did play a part for Spain in Euro 2000 and the FIFA World Cup 2006.
The Spaniard, as yet, has not been designated with a team in the Premier Futsal.
Players from across 21 countries are slated to take part in the first-ever Premier Futsal competition in India. There will be eight teams representing Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Hyderabad and Goa in the league. Three international players, one international marquee player and one Indian player will comprise the five-member teams.
The tournament is set for a July 15 start.
