Former Mohun Bagan star Fran Morante joins Segunda B side Linares Deportivo

The defender was part of the Mariners' squad that won the I-League in the 2019-20 season.

Fran Morante, who was an integral part of Mohun Bagan's I-League 2019-20 winning squad, has signed for Spanish Segunda Division B outfit Linares Deportivo, the club confirmed on Saturday. The 28-year-old made 15 appearances for Mohun Bagan in the 2019-20 in the I-League, scoring one goal in the process.

Born in Cordoba in 1992, Fran Morante began his career as a youth team player in his hometown club, Cordoba CF. He steadily rose through the ranks there and was promoted to their B team in 2011. The following year, he joined Granada CF reserves and played for them till the end of the 2015-16 season, when Real Murcia came calling. Stints at CD Badajoz, Salamanca CF and DUX Internacional de Madrid followed, before Mohun Bagan signed him ahead of the 2019-20 season.

Under head coach Kibu Vicuna, Fran Morante played in 15 I-League matches for the Mariners and also scored a goal during their 6-2 win against NEROCA FC. He was one of the most important names in Mohun Bagan's squad throughout the season, and played for the full 90 minutes in all but one of his matches in the league.

The Green and Maroon also lifted the I-League title with as many as four matches to spare, and afterwards they merged with reigning ISL champions ATK to form ATK Mohun Bagan. The new entity will take part in the Indian Super League (ISL) in the 2020-21 season, with a few of the Mariners' former players joining them.

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