THE NEW INDIAN football league held its auction ahead of next month’s kick-off and former Chelsea striker Hernan Crespo was the most in-demand player on offer.
A number of former stars were confirmed to play when the new franchise, which will be held from February 25 – April 8 in West Bengal, was announced a couple of weeks back.
The format involves each of the six teams bidding for one ‘icon’ player, two overseas players and a coach. Crespo received the highest bid when Basarat offered €634,000 for the 36-year-old Argentinian’s services.
World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro was next in line, Siliguri paid €630,000 for the defender, while Fernando Couto became the most expensive coach after Howrah agreed €171,000 for the ex-Porto and Barcelona centre-half.
Robbie Fowler will be managed at Kolkata by compatriot Peter Reid, Robert Pires links up with Couto at Howrah and Jay-Jay Okochowill play with Durgapur.