NEROCA FC sign ex-Athletic Bilbao forward Sergio Mendigutxia

The forward has also played in one La Liga game for Sporting Gijon.

I-League outfit NEROCA FC have completed the signing of Sergio Mendigutxia, Khel Now can confirm. The 28-year-old is the club's fourth and final foreign signing for the forthcoming 2021-22 season.

"Sergio Mendigutxia Iglesias has joined NEROCA FC. He has signed a season-long deal with the club," sources close to the developments informed Khel Now. Hailing from Aviles in Spain, Mendigutxia kick-started his senior footballing career with CU Collado Villalba as a 16-year-old, before signing with Athletic Bilbao's U-19 team.

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Stints at Spanish clubs CD Basconia, La Roda, Cordoba, Sporting Gijon, UD Logrones, Racing Ferrol, UD Sanse and Marino Luanco and Poland-based Stal Mielec followed for the player, who also played a single La Liga (Spanish top-flight) game in the 2015-16 season while at Gijon. Incidentally, his only La Liga match happened against his former club Bilbao.

The forward was also called up to Spain's U-19 squad at one point of time. Overall, he has made nearly 200 appearances for various clubs, finding the back of the nets on over 35 different occasions.

NEROCA FC's pre-season preparations

As mentioned earlier, Sergio Mendigutxia is NEROCA FC's fourth overseas signing. The Orange Brigade previously wrapped up the signing of ex-East Bengal star Juan Mera, Mohamad Kdouh from Lebanon and former Minerva Punjab, RoundGlass Punjab defender Danilo Quipapa.

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Interestingly, Mera and Mendigutxia have been teammates before, at Sporting Gijon.

The club have also roped in domestic players like Vicky Meitei, Sweden Fernandes, Manisana Singh, Hrishikesh Namboothiri and Madan Ghogale. Having finished at the bottom of the I-League table in the 2020-21 season, NEROCA seem to be keen to put on an improved set of performances next season.

As things stand, I-League 2021-22 will be held at Kolkata and will begin in December.

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