All You Need To Know: The Nestor Gordillo tapping-up saga

The Spaniard was one of the best players in the I-League last season.

With eight goals and 10 assists, Nestor Gordillo was undoubtedly one of the star-turns in Akbar Nawas’ Chennai City side in the I-League last season. The Spaniard was a result of Nawas and Jordi Villa's exemplary scouting system and has attracted the attention of clubs from all over India.

Gordillo has a contract that runs till June of 2020 with Chennai City, who were under the impression that he would honour the same. However, news broke from the I-League champions that the player had been signed by FC Pune City for the 2019-2020 ISL season without their prior knowledge or consent.

Chennai City went so far as to approach the AIFF on the issue, requesting them to intervene. The AIFF sent a letter to both Pune City and to Gordillo, seeking an explanation.

"We have him (Nestor Gordillo) under contract till June 2020.  When we came to know that other clubs were trying to sign him, we asked him and his agent whether they had signed any contract via written communication. They categorically denied the same," a top Chennai City official told Goal India.

Gordillo subsequently tried to have his contract with the Coimbatore-based club cancelled in an attempt to push the alleged transfer through.

"We were happy that we could plan for the upcoming season with Gordillo, but then things turned strange. Gordillo tried to get his contract cancelled with us, which is when we came to know that Pune City have signed him without informing us. So, we have shared all the communication and proof with the AIFF and have asked them to intervene."

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"We have done a lot of work in scouting and identifying a talent like Gordillo before bringing him to India. Now that he has played so well, to turn his head and lure him away is not right."

As it stands, the AIFF will wait for a reply from both the Stallions and the player, before deciding their next course of action.

Pune City officials have denied the allegations, claiming that they have not signed the player, with or without CFC’s knowledge.

"The AIFF enquired with us because Chennai City had raised a concern with them. I do not know of any evidence or anything regarding this. I don't know on what basis this accusation is being levelled. The AIFF has just asked us to present our views and asked us if it was true or not. We have declined the same and filed our reply. We have not signed Nestor Gordillo," said Pune City CEO, Gaurav Modwel.

Should the player and the club be found guilty of the accusations, they could find themselves on the receiving end of fines and perhaps more serious punishment from the AIFF.