Juanan keen to return to ISL as Hyderabad FC initiate talks

Odisha FC have also shown interest in the 34-year-old.

Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Hyderabad FC are in talks with former Bengaluru FC defender Juanan, Khel Now has learnt. The Blues announced earlier on Monday that they have parted ways with the player by mutual consent.

Juanan himself is keen to return to the league next season, according to our sources. "Hyderabad FC have begun talks to try and sign him. He had a year's contract remaining at Bengaluru FC, before both parties mutually decided to terminate it, so that he can leave as a free agent. The player himself is interested to play in the Indian Super League again," sources close to the developments informed Khel Now. We also understand that at least two ISL more clubs, including Odisha FC, have shown interest in acquiring his services ahead of ISL 2021-22.

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Juanan's career so far

Juanan began his football career by playing for the youth teams of San Pedro, RCD Mallorca and CD San Francisco. He moved to Deportivo La Coruna in 2007 and that is where he kick-started his senior career.

At La Coruna, he initially signed for their 'B' team before earning promotion to the first-team. At around the same time, which was in 2009, Real Madrid's Reserves came calling and he joined them. Stints at Fortuna Dusseldorf, Hungarian club Ujpest FC and USA-based Rayo OKC followed, before he shifted base to Bengaluru FC in 2016. Back then, the Blues were still playing in the I-League.

In his very first season, the 34-year-old reached the AFC Cup final with them, a first for any Indian club. In the 2018-19 season, Juanan played an important role at BFC, as they lifted their first and only ISL title to-date. Overall, the centre-back made 71 appearances for the Blues in the top flight alone. He has also scored five goals.

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In ISL 2020-21, he clocked 1177 minutes across 14 matches and scored two goals. Throughout the campaign, he maintained a passing accuracy of 81.1%, while also averaging 1.14 tackles, 1.00 interceptions, 3.29 clearances and 1.79 blocks per match.

It is not surprising that the defender has garnered interest from other Indian Super League teams. No other available foreign player has so much experience in the league and he has also shown remarkable consistency over the past few years. If all goes to plan and Hyderabad sign him, the likes of Chinglensana Singh, Nikhil Prabhu and more will have a highly experienced and skilled teammate to look up to and learn from.

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