How will Franchu's move to FC Goa affect Kerala Blasters FC?

The departure saga continues at the Blasters

Kerala Blasters do not have a very high regard from the fans when it comes to the retention of key players in their squad. The club has been releasing some of the key players who have delivered when demanded for the past few years, and Franchu is the newest name on this list.

Looking at the numbers, Franchu has been one of the best players for the team last season. Ever since Adrian Luna left the club for his loan spell in Indonesia, the Blasters lacked creativity in the offence, and the replacement players were unable to fill the void left by Luna. This resulted in the team losing six out of their first seven matches of ISL 2025-26.

This was when Franchu came in as a late signing and brought the balance back to the team. Having played in some of the most competitive leagues, Franchu brought in the experience and calmness into the squad in times of pressure.

Ever since then, there was no looking back for the Blasters. From his debut, the Blasters were on an unbeaten run with five wins and a draw, and Franchu made five goal contributions for the side. At the end of the season, the 27-year-old, to an extent, succeeded in his attempts to mitigate the absence of Luna in the squad; however, his move to FC Goa now just deepens the void.

After a remarkable spell with the Kerala Blasters FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 season, bagging two goals and providing three assists in six appearances for the Tuskers, Franchu arrives at FC Goa as their latest foreign signing.

The departure of the key players is not a surprise now for the Kerala Blasters fans, it has become a routine affair. In this article, we take a look at how this move can adversely affect Kerala Blasters FC.

A positive signing for FC Goa

FC Goa have completed the signing of the former Real Madrid player Francisco Feuillassier Abalo from Kerala Blasters. The 27-year-old Argentine attacking midfielder joins the Gaurs as the club continues its squad revamp for the upcoming season, starting with the ACL-2 playoff in August.

Primarily operating as a winger, Franchu is capable of playing on both flanks and offers versatility across the attacking line. His pace and intelligent movement make him a constant threat in one-on-one situations.

Known for his close control and ability to carry the ball into advanced areas, the Argentine becomes a dynamic option in wide positions for FC Goa in their upcoming season.

Franchu’s career so far

Born in Mar del Plata, Argentina, the forward arrives with experience across multiple European leagues, developing his football in the youth systems of Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano.

During his time in Madrid, he gained experience in a highly competitive environment, contributing regularly in Segunda División B and showcasing his attacking quality.

He later went on to build his senior career in Spain with clubs including Rayo Vallecano, CF Fuenlabrada, SD Eibar and FC Cartagena, featuring across LaLiga SmartBank and other competitive divisions, and a brief stint with Karmiotissa FC in Cyprus.

Franchu later joined Kerala Blasters FC as a late replacement for Marlon Roos Trulijo to revive the club from a struggling position. This saw immediate results, as Franchu, on debut, scored an exceptional goal that helped Blasters secure their first-ever away victory against Bengaluru FC.

Franchu has since then been the creative playmaker for the Blasters, with his pace and intelligent movement making him a constant threat in one-on-one situations. His ability to cut inside and link up with teammates further strengthened the team’s attacking transitions.

Over his career, Franchu has made 183 appearances, in which he managed to score 18 goals and provide 22 assists, in tournaments like La Liga 2, Segunda División B, Copa del Rey, Nemzeti Bajnokság and others.

What does Franchu bring to the table for FC Goa?

FC Goa played the entire Indian Super League 2025-26 season with just two foreigners, citing the uncertainties revolving around the league and Indian Football. However, with the two available foreigners set to leave, the Goan side did not have any international player for their upcoming ACL-2 clash against Istiklol.

Following the signing of Franchu, FC Goa now has a creative playmaker who can provide versatility in the final third and act as a link between the attack and the defence. Franchu has excelled with his tactical brilliance and game awareness at the Blasters, and this will pay dividends for FC Goa.

His work rate off the ball and willingness to track back also add balance, making him an effective presence in both attacking and defensive phases of play.

What next for the Blasters?

Since Franchu has left the team, the Blasters must immediately start their hunt for a player to replace the Argentine, that has a benchmark quality, a task which the Blasters failed to deliver last season.

The club must now bring in a young creative player who has a good experience playing in physically and mentally demanding conditions and have played a decent amount amount of competitive minutes in those leagues.

Following the end of the loan spell of Adrian Luna at Persik, the club must also do their level best to retain their captain at any cost to prevent any further damages to the squad.

If the management fails to take the apt sporting decisions at this moment, the Blasters dream for their maiden silverware will remain far away from their reach and near to impossible.

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