Diego Mauricio quits Odisha FC, heads for the Middle East

The Brazilian spent only one season with the Juggernauts in India.

Brazilian attacker Diego Mauricio has left the Indian Super League (ISL) to join Al Shahania, a club that plays in the second-tier league in Qatar. The striker was very impressive in his debut season with Odisha FC and was their outright best performer. The seventh edition of the league saw the Juggernauts finish in the bottom-place. However, even amongst the clouds of despair, Mauricio’s talent shone the brightest. 

The 30-year-old will be a huge miss for Odisha FC after he became a force to be reckoned with last year. The club is undergoing huge changes in order to improve their fortunes from next season onwards. The former Flamengo star will be playing in Qatar for the first-time in his career. He will look to replicate his goalscoring form in the upcoming season for his new employers. 

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A Huge Asset

Al Shahania are getting a sensational attacker who works the hardest. Diego Mauricio is a relentless runner who even excelled in the humid sub-continent conditions in the ISL. He did not let the negative results of the team affect his individual performance. The striker scored 12 goals and provided two assists in 20 games last season in the ISL.

He has incredible longevity as well. The forward featured in all the games during the 2020/21 season. Odisha FC scored only 25 goals throughout the season, out of which 12 were scored by the Brazilian. Furthermore, he also offers versatility in the forward positions. 

He transitioned seamlessly between a wing-forward to a center-forward position. Mauricio also has a powerful strike in his locker and loves to dominate defenders with his physicality. Moreover, he clocked in 1608 minutes and took 52 shots on goal. Also, 38 tackles suggest that he falls back to support the defenders and help the team. 

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Asian Experience

Diego Mauricio has vast experience of playing in Asia. The forward has played for Ratchaburi FC in Thailand, SJZ Ever Bright in China, Gangwon FC and Busan IPark in South Korea and Odisha FC in India.

Odisha FC are searching for a replacement and will likely bring in a new forward before the 2021/22 season begins. The outfit have brought in Hector Rodas and Victor Mongil (defenders) ahead of the new season already. There is a growing Spanish influence at the club under head coach Kiko Ramirez. 

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