Bengaluru FC in talks to re-sign Xisco Hernandez

The Spanish winger was a part of the Blues squad in their title-winning 2018-19 season.

Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Bengaluru FC are in talks to talks to re-sign Spanish forward Xisco Hernandez, Khel Now can confirm. Hernandez was a part of the Blues previously in the 2018-19 season, when the team lifted their first and only ISL title till date.

"Xisco Hernandez has entered talks with Bengaluru FC," a source close to the developments informed Khel Now. We also understand that another ISL club are also interested to have him on their books. However, as of now, it is the former league champions who lead the race for his signature. Hernandez kick-started his football career in the youth academy of La Liga side RCD Mallorca. In the 2008-09 season, he made his senior team debut with the club's reserves side in the Tercera Division.

Ahead of the 2010-11 season, he moved to Elche CF, who were then plying their trade in the Segunda Division. However, his stint there was very short, having terminated his deal and moved to CD Puertollano just over a month later. At the end of that campaign, he returned to his former club Mallorca for a second stint with the reserves.

Moves to Lleida Esportiu, CD Atletico Baleares, CF Reus Deportiu and Gimnastic de Tarragona followed, before the winger first arrived in India ahead of the 2018-19 season.

At the Bengaluru-based club, Hernandez made 21 appearances including one in the Super Cup. He also scored a goal and notched five assists for them that season, before shifting to Odisha FC in 2019-20. At his new club, he developed further as a goalscorer and found the net five teams. He also clocked two assists for them and was one of the shining stars in an otherwise mediocre side.

Ahead of the 2020-21 season, the Juggernauts parted ways with the Spaniard and he was without a club till January 2020. But now, it appears that he is all set to return to India and reunite with his former club. Meanwhile, Bengaluru FC themselves are in a difficult phase having failed to register a win in their last five matches. A week ago, they also sacked head coach Carles Cuadrat due to the lack of positive results. Naushad Moosa has since taken charge at the club as their interim head coach.

The Blues already have seven foreign players in Kristian Opseth, Deshorn Brown, Cleiton Silva, Dimas Delgado, Erik Paartalu, Juanan and Fran Gonzalez, which means that one of them will either be released from the team or de-registered from their ISL squad to make space for the incoming Xisco.