Brazilian Rafael Crivellaro joins Jamshedpur FC until end of season

The 33-year-old has parted ways with Chennaiyin FC after three seasons.

Rafael Crivellaro has parted ways with Chennaiyin FC after representing the club for three seasons since season 6. Crivellaro will now be joining Jamshedpur FC until the end of the season. 

The Brazilian joined Chennaiyin FC in season 6 and it was his best season in the ISL scoring seven goals and eight assists (second most) after Hugo Boumous. His combo with Nerijus Valskis guided Chennaiyin to the finals after a poor start to the season.

Chennaiyin FC was reeling in the bottom of the points table under coach Gregory and it was Owen Coyle who brought in the attacking intentions to the team and brought out the best combination of Rafael and Valskis (golden boot with 15 goals).

Injury woes

Rafael Crivellaro started season 7 on a bright note but an ankle injury ruled him out for the entire season. He had signed a two-year contract before the start of the season and still had a year remaining. Crivellaro did not play a single competitive game in Brazil post-injury but Chennaiyin FC had high hopes for the midfielder.

Once again, Crivellaro was ruled out entirely from season 8 after he incurred a muscle injury at the start of the season but couldn't recover fully post the injury.

Chennaiyin FC released all the foreigners from season 8 except for Rafael Crivellaro. The Brazilian joined the club four months prior to the league but was replaced by Nasser El Khayati two weeks from the commencement of ISL as he wasn't a hundred per cent fit. He was part of the reserve team practising with them for two months after which both the club and the midfielder mutually parted ways.

Overall Crivellaro has represented Chennaiyin FC on 27 occasions scoring eight goals.