Defending Indian Super League champion Chennaiyin FC are announcing a host of new players ahead of the third season of the Indian football competition. However, the major question remains on everyone's minds now is whether Super Machans, led by Marco Materazzi, can retain their most influential player -- Stiven Mendoza -- for ISL 2016.
Mendoza, 24, remained the undisputed star of the Indian Super League last season and his contributions to help Chennaiyin FC win the title was immense. The Colombian striker scored 13 goals from 16 games in the ISL last time around and his stellar performance drew a lot of attention for Major League Soccer (MLS) side New York City FC (NYCFC).
The Corinthians man joined the MLS side on loan in March this year, and besides playing alongside legends of the game like Andrea Pirlo, David Villa and Frank Lampard, Mendoza also got on to the scoresheet on three occasions from a total of 18 appearances with NYCFC.
With so much experience at the back of him, it can only turn out to be great not only for the ISL side but also for the football lovers to watch him play in India for yet another season. On Wednesday, the Times of India cited a source and revealed that Mendoza would be retained once again by Chennaiyin FC and a four-month deal has been agreed upon.
"Mendoza owes a lot to Chennaiyin. He got his stardom by playing for Chennaiyin. In fact, he invited Chennaiyin co-owner Abhishek Bachchan for their MLS match," TOI quoted the source. "The club is very dear to his heart and so he wanted to repay the club by playing another season."
The star striker is being expected to join with the ISL side in their preseason training camp in Perugia, Italy, mid-September. Chennaiyin FC start their campaign in ISL 2016 against Atletico de Kolkata on Oct. 2.
